What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever
is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes. It is found mostly during and
shortly after the rainy season in tropical and subtropical areas of:
Africa Southeast Asia and China India Middle East Caribbean and Central and
South America Australia and the South and
Central Pacific
Dengue fever
was previously 'break-bone fever' because it sometimes causes severe joint and
muscle pain.
What are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?
Symptoms of
typical uncomplicated dengue usually start within 5 to 6 days after a person
has been bitten by an infected mosquito. Some common symptoms are:
High fever The fever may reach 105
degrees FahrenheitSevere headache Pain behind the eye Severe joint pain
Severe muscle pain Nausea Rash The rash may appear over
most of the body 3 to 4 days after the fever begins. A second rash may
appear
later in the diseaseVomiting
What Causes Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever
can be caused by any one of four types of dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3,
and DEN-4. Infection with one virus does not protect a person against infection
with another.
A person can
be infected by at least two, if not all four types of the dengue virus at
different times during a life span, but only once by the same type.
How is Dengue Fever Transmitted?
People
contract dengue fever from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Mosquitoes
become infected when they bite infected humans, and later transmit infection to
other people they bite.
How is Dengue Fever Diagnosed?
A doctor can
diagnose dengue fever by performing a blood test. The test will show whether
the blood sample contains dengue virus or antibodies to the virus.
Can Dengue Fever be Treated?
Yes. Your
doctor will prescribe medicines
to help relieve your symptoms.
Complications of Dengue Fever?
If not treated
properly, dengue hemorrhagic fever may occur. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is
severe and often fatal.
