Things you need to know about DENGUE

[silver_corolla]

• Dengue [DEN-ghee] is a flu-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue.

• Dengue occurs in most tropical areas of the world. Most U.S. cases occur in travelers returning from abroad, but the dengue risk is increasing for persons living along the Texas-Mexico border and in other parts of the southern United States.

• There is no specific treatment for dengue.

• Prevention centers on avoiding mosquito bites in areas where dengue occurs or might occur and eliminating breeding sites.

What is dengue fever? What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?

Dengue fever is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue fever.

What is the infectious agent that causes dengue?

Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any of the dengue family of viruses. Infection with one virus does not protect a person against infection with another.



How is dengue spread?



Dengue is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else.

Where is dengue found?

Dengue viruses occur in most tropical areas of the world. Dengue is common in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Australia, and the Americas. It is widespread in the Caribbean basin. Dengue is most common in cities but can be found in rural areas. It is rarely found in mountainous areas above 4,000 feet.

The mosquitoes that transmit dengue live among humans and breed in discarded tires, flower pots, old oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings. Unlike the mosquitoes that cause malaria, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.

What are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever?

Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children.

Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. With dengue hemorrhagic fever, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (dengue shock syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults.



How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?



The time between the bite of a mosquito carrying dengue virus and the start of symptoms averages 4 to 6 days, with a range of 3 to 14 days. An infected person cannot spread the infection to other persons but can be a source of dengue virus for mosquitoes for about 6 days.

How is dengue diagnosed?

Dengue is diagnosed by a blood test.



Who is at risk for dengue?



Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito can get dengue fever. Risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever include a person's age and immune status, as well as the type of infecting virus. Persons who were previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus are thought to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever if infected again.




What is the treatment for dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever?



There is no specific treatment for dengue. Persons with dengue fever should rest and drink plenty of fluids. They should be kept away from mosquitoes for the protection of others. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is treated by replacing lost fluids. Some patients need transfusions to control bleeding.



How common is dengue?



In tropical countries around the world, dengue is one of the most common viral diseases spread to humans by mosquitoes. Tens of millions of cases of dengue fever and up to hundreds of thousands of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever occur each year.

In the United States, approximately 100 cases of dengue are reported each year in travelers returning from tropical areas. Many more cases probably go unreported. A few persons have become infected with dengue while living in the United States. Aedes mosquitoes are found in Texas, Florida, and other southern states, and locally acquired dengue has been reported three times since 1980 in southern Texas.



Is dengue an emerging infectious disease?



Yes. All types of dengue virus are re-emerging worldwide and causing larger and more frequent epidemics, especially in cities in the tropics. The emergence of dengue as a major public health problem has been most dramatic in the western hemisphere. Dengue fever has reached epidemic levels in Central America and is threatening the United States.



Several factors are contributing to the resurgence of dengue fever:

• No effective mosquito control efforts are underway in most countries with dengue.

• Public health systems to detect and control epidemics are deteriorating around the world.

• Rapid growth of cities in tropical countries has led to overcrowding, urban decay, and substandard sanitation, allowing more mosquitoes to live closer to more people.

• The increase in non-biodegradable plastic packaging and discarded tires is creating new breeding sites for mosquitoes.

• Increased jet air travel is helping people infected with dengue viruses to move easily from city to city.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is also on the rise. Persons who have been infected with one or more forms of dengue virus are at greater risk for the more severe disease. With the increase in all types of virus, the occurrence of dengue hemorrhagic fever becomes more likely.




How can dengue be prevented?



There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. Prevention centers on avoiding mosquito bites when traveling to areas where dengue occurs and when in U.S. areas, especially along the Texas-Mexico border, where dengue might occur. Eliminating mosquito breeding sites in these areas is another key prevention measure.



Avoid mosquito bites when traveling in tropical areas:



• Use mosquito repellents on skin and clothing.

• When outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.

• Avoid heavily populated residential areas.

• When indoors, stay in air-conditioned or screened areas. Use bednets if sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned.

• If you have symptoms of dengue, report your travel history to your doctor.

Eliminate mosquito breeding sites in areas where dengue might occur:

• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around homes. Discard items that can collect rain or run-off water, especially old tires.

• Regularly change the water in outdoor bird baths and pet and animal water containers.

[mantoy]

kakagaling ko lang sa hospital with my 4-yr old. 3 days na kasi sya may fever at nag-decide na kong ipa-blood test kasi natakot ako baka dengue na yun. buti na lang normal ang result ng blood test nya. above average ang count ng platelets sa blood nya. and tonsillitis lang pala sakit nya. haay salamat.

[ranod55]

'yan ata ang kinamatay ng anak na radio-commentator si Rey Langit?

[axelangel007]

'yan ata ang kinamatay ng anak na radio-commentator si Rey Langit?

Malaria, hindi dengue

[theveed]

Ranod: Malaria yun

[stinkaboy]

iba ata yung sa anak ni reylangit..meningitis ata yun, pero kagat din ng lamok.

[silver_corolla]

iba ata yung sa anak ni reylangit..meningitis ata yun, pero kagat din ng lamok.

Ang alam ko Cerebral Malaria ang kinamatay ni Reyster Langit. Baka don na din nag trigger meningitis nya, that I'm not sure.

[pawsacat]

I had dengue, TWICE! the last time was exactly last year, around August. I was confined for a week, my platelet count went down to 24. Grabe migraine ko (I even went thru a ct scan) and I didn't feel like eating anything. The symptoms were chills, recurring fever, muscle/joint pain (stinging sensation). Nagka epidemic sa area namin plus overworked kaya hayun.....

[mikey177]

Kaya pag may nakita akong lamok, pinapatay ko kaagad. For any parent, the only good mosquito is a dead misquito.

Also, I have my kids use mosquito repellant at school, since there was a dengue outbreak in Binalonan a few days ago, and Binalonan is just a few kilometers from our city.

pawsacat:: I'm really glad you recovered from your bouts with dengue.

[axelangel007]

sa araw lumalabas ang lamok na me carrier na dengue,sa gabi, malaria naman, pesteng lamok yan.

[mrpink]

.. nung bata ako akala ko once na magka-dengue ka and survive .. you'll have anti-bodies na to counter para hindi ka na magkasakit uli .. parang measles or chix pox ..

[BlackPrince]

try this ... i do this sometimes ... wet your hands if possible put some soap with bubbles. Then chase that pesky 'F8ck*ng moss-kito' ... the good thing? Bubbles or water in your hands will catch it. hahahhahaa ....

others say put a drop of joy (lemon) on a plate with water. others naman say to put a water in a glass with a stick, then throw the water every 3 days in a dry surface (kalsada!) ... well ... try BAYGON! hahaha

good luck to us.

[OTEP]

Madami talagang may dengue ngayon. Andito ko sa Pedia, anak ng patola namatayan pa kami ng isa (galing Nueva Ecija).

Dengue itself wala naman gamot talaga. Just be on the lookout for complications like bleeding and signs of it (abdominal pain, hilo, etc.).

Paracetamol lang ang gamot talaga as you wait for the disease to take its course.