DENGUE FEVER
DENGUE FEVER
Dengue is a disease caused by mosquito bite infected with the dengue virus. It can be mild or severe depending on the symptoms. Mild conditions include symptoms like skin rash, temperature, pain in joints and muscles where as severe condition involves profound bleeding (hemorrhages) leading to acute drop in blood pressures and hence death. Many researches are being conducted to make dengue vaccines since it is a widely spread infection and millions of cases occur each year.
Symptoms
The symptoms occur approximately 4 to 7 days after a mosquito bite. These include:
- High grade fever
- Headache
- Arthralgia,
- Myalgia and bone pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Eye pain
- Skin rash
- Enlarged glands/ lymph nodes
The usual symptoms present are high grade fever along with minimum two of the additional symptoms mentioned above. Mild condition recovers soon whereas severe form causes decline in platelets and is called dengue hemorrhagic fever/ dengue shock syndrome. It’s symptoms include:
- Severe vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding/ easy bruising
- Hematuria/ blood in urine or vomit.
- Tachypnea
- Cold skin
- Lethargy
- Restlessness
Causes
Dengue is caused by a mosquito bite which is infected with virus.
Diagnosis
Dengue can be diagnosed by its signs and symptoms, it must be differentiated from other similar diseases like malaria, typhoid, leptospirosis, etc.
Some lab tests can be done but they usually come back late to help with the treatment.
Treatment
No specific treatment exists.
However, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be given to decrease pain. Agents that lead to bleeding complications should be avoided which include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium.