Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. The virus responsible for causing dengue, is called
dengue virus (DENV)
.
What are the warning signs of dengue?
- Abdominal pain or tenderness.
- Persistent vomiting.
- Clinical fluid accumulation.
- Mucosal bleed.
- Lethargy or restlessness.
- Liver enlargement > 2 cm.
- Laboratory finding of increasing HCT concurrent with rapid decrease in platelet count.
What is dengue fever and how do humans get it?
When a mosquito bites a person infected
with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus enters that person’s bloodstream and causes an infection.
How do you catch dengue fever?
Dengue viruses are spread to people
through the bite of an infected Aedes species
(Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. Dengue is common in more than 100 countries around the world.
What bacteria causes dengue fever?
The pathogen
Dengue is caused by a
virus of the Flaviviridae family
, Flavivirus genus which includes viruses such as yellow fever, West Nile and tick-borne encephalitis.
Can dengue cure on its own?
The virus can cause fever, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body. Most cases of dengue fever are
mild and go away on their own after about a week
.
Is dengue transmitted by kissing?
Dengue does not spread by kissing
. Dengue is transmitted only by mosquito bite. Dengue fever cannot be transmitted by coughing, sneezing or touch. It is not contagious and does not spread by kissing.
Which organs are affected by dengue?
During its journey, the dengue virus infects more cells, including those in the lymph nodes and bone marrow,
macrophages in both the spleen and liver
, and monocytes in the blood.
What should I do if I suspect dengue?
- See a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. …
- Rest as much as possible.
- Take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol outside of the United States) to control fever and relieve pain. …
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
What is the fastest way to recover from dengue fever?
- Papaya leaf juice. Papaya leaf juice is a quite famous remedy for dengue fever. …
- Vegetable juices. …
- Coconut water. …
- Herbal tea. …
- Neem leaves.
How long does dengue stay in your system?
In most individuals, the disease lasts
about 3-10 days
, but some symptoms and signs may linger. Medical professionals usually diagnose the disease with a blood test (PCR or an immunologic test).
How does dengue rash look like?
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body
2 to 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
What is the best treatment for dengue fever?
Treatment. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Fever reducers and pain killers can be taken to control the symptoms of muscle aches and pains, and fever. The best options to treat these symptoms are
acetaminophen or paracetamol
.
Is there a vaccine for dengue fever?
Dengue Vaccine Globally
A vaccine to prevent dengue (
Dengvaxia®
) is licensed and available in some countries for people aged 9 to 45 years. The World Health Organization recommends that the vaccine only be given to persons with confirmed previous dengue virus infection.
Where is dengue most common?
The disease is common in many popular tourist destinations in
the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico)
, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In the United States, local cases and limited spread of dengue does occur periodically in some states with hot, humid climates and Aedes mosquitoes.
Is dengue man made?
But dengue is a disease of urbanisation and human travel. In the words of Suchitra Nimmannitya, a Thai specialist on the disease, the infected Aedes aegypti is “
a man-made mosquito”
.