Dengue Fever: The Cause, Symptoms & Preventions

As we entered the raining season and that with widely spread of the dengue fever occurring in and around Medan, known as Demam Berdarah (DBD) in Indonesia, we would like to create some awareness of this infectious disease. Although Dengue may not be a deadly a disease, it is dangerous and is vital to take precautions especially for the elderly and young children.

“1 child die of Dengue Fever every 20 minutes in the World” – World Health Organization

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

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.

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.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Dengue fever includes the 21 symptoms listed below:

· High fever – up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
· Severe headache
· Retro-orbital pain – pain behind the eye
· Severe joint pains
· Muscle pains
· Muscle aches
· Swollen lymph nodes
· General weakness
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Rash
· Children get non-typical symptoms
· Fever
· Weakness
· Prostration
· Severe headache
· Pain behind the eyes
· Severe muscle pain
· Slowed heart rate
· Enlarge lymph nodes
· Maculopapular rash

How is Dengue treated?
Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially lethal complication but early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses often save lives.

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.

By Medan Indonesia
Filed under Information