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What is dengue fever?
What areas are at high risk for contracting dengue fever?
How is dengue contracted?
What are the signs and symptoms of dengue?
How is dengue fever treated?
What is the outcome with typical dengue?
What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?
How can dengue fever be prevented?
What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted
by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a
benign course with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle
pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue
triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly
characteristic of dengue.
Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity.
Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to
get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces
immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was
exposed.
Dengue goes by other names, including "breakbone" or "dandy fever." Victims
of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain,
hence the name breakbone fever. Slaves in the West Indies who contracted
dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and gait.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness.
Manifestations include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in
the body. Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding
in the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all possible signs
of hemorrhage. This form of dengue fever can be life-threatening or even
fatal.
What areas are at high risk for contracting dengue fever?
Dengue is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics. Outbreaks have
occurred in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Cuba, and Central America. Cases have also been imported via tourists
returning from areas with widespread dengue, including Tahiti, the South
Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies, India, and the Middle East.
Dengue fever is common and may be increasing in Southeast Asia. Thailand,
Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia have all reported an increase in cases.
According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 50
million cases of dengue fever with 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever
requiring hospitalization each year. Nearly 40% of the world's population
lives in an area endemic with dengue.
