What is Dengue? Cause, Symptoms, And Treatment of Dengue
Dengue(Pronounced as DENG-gey) is a mosquito-borne disease, and it is not a contaminated disease. It is not transmitted or spread directly from person to person. The Aedes Mosquito mostly spreads it. The Dengue is also called Breakbone fever or dandy fever.
One hundred countries are affected by Dengue. It is mainly seen in tropical areas and subtropical areas of the world.
Almost 14 percent of people are suffering because of Dengue, and about 3billion people are living in an area that is on the risk of Dengue.
It is most common in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands, and now it is transmitted rapidly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The mosquito causes Dengue.
Dengue is spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This mosquito is also spread Zika, Chikungunya, and other viral conditions.
The female Aedes mosquito transmits the dengue virus. When an Aedes mosquito bites an infected person, the dengue virus is inter into the body of the female Aedes mosquito. When she bites a healthy person, the virus enters his body and then attack by the Dengue viral fever.
The virus causes Dengue.
The dengue virus (DEN) includes four different serotypes DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4 which are belonging to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae.
Among the four two Asian genera, DEN-2 and DEN-3 are commonly associated with severe disease following secondary dengue infections.
The Human affected by dengue virus
When an infected mosquito bites a person, the virus is circulating in the body of an infected person for 2-7 days and, at the same time, develops a fever. A person who is already infected with the dengue virus, the first symptoms appear (during 4-5 days; maximum 12).
The severe form of dengue fever, is called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause severe bleeding, respiratory distress, plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock), and then the death of the person.
Symptoms of Dengue
A person infected by the dengue fever virus develops severe flu-like symptoms. The disease also referred to as ‘break-bone’ fever. That affects infants, kids, and adults alike and will be fatal. The clinical characteristics of breakbone fever vary according to the age of the patient.
It shows the following characteristics:
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Nausea, Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Muscle and joint pains
- Rash
Symptoms typically last for 2-7 days, after an incubation period of 4-10 days.
But if the person has a severe form of dengue fever, is called ‘dengue hemorrhagic fever’ show the following Characteristics:
- Respiratory distress
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Bleeding gums
- Blood in vomit
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Fluid accumulation
Causes And Transmission of Dengue
Dengue is spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This mosquito is also spread Zika, Chikungunya, and other viral diseases.
The dengue virus (DEN) includes four different serotypes DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4 which are belonging to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae.
Among the four two Asian genera, DEN-2 and DEN-3 are commonly associated with severe disease following secondary dengue infections.
When a female Aedes mosquito bites an infected person, the dengue virus enters into the body of the Aedes mosquito. The virus is then matured in the salivary gland os the female Aedes mosquito. When they are mature, the female Aedes mosquito bites a healthy person, the sophisticated virus enters into the body of that person and cause Dengue.
Rarely Dengue can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby at the time of birth. But till now there no case is found that infant is affected by Dengue during breastfeeding. But it can also be transmitted through blood fusion.
Treatment Of Dengue
There is no Vaccine or antiviral medicine available for the treatment of Chikungunya. Medication can be given based on their symptoms, including joint pain.
Why is only female mosquito are the carrier of viruses but not the male mosquito?
Both male and female mosquito are feed plant nectar, which secreted from the flower. But female mosquito feed blood.
Because when a female mosquito becomes a flying adult, she is ready for taking 1st blood meal from the host-host may be human or any other animal. After that, the blood id digested inside the body of the mosquito, and the egg is developed.
She lay eggs, and again she needs blood for the nurture of egg. At the time of the taking of blood meal from the host body, the virus enters into the body of a mosquito and grows in the salivary gland of mosquito. When she bites a healthy person, the virus comes into the body of the host.
Treatment based on the symptoms of Dengue
- more rest is require
- For maintaining dehydration drink fluid
- To reduce fever and pain, take medicine like acetaminophen or paracetamol.
- Don’t take any type of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- And if you’re taking any medicine than taken with the permission of your doctor.
Prevention of Dengue
- To avoid mosquito bites, wear clothes that cover skin as much as possible and use mosquito repellents based on label instructions.
- Use mosquito nets to protect pregnant woman babies, older people, and sick people and others who present during the day.
- Use mosquito coils and insecticide during the daytime.
- To reduce mosquito breeding, remove water present around your home, clean your drain, and remove discarded containers around your house.
- Avoid traveling in the outbreak area. Use oil that contains lemons.
Diagnosis of Dengue
The determination of Dengue is similar to that of malaria and Typhoid. According to the sign and symptoms of the patient-doctor, Prescribe Some medicine and doing some tests.