Written by: Shams Esam, Phoebe Wen, Arushi Ahuja, Blessy Thomson, Emma Wang, Amarthya Pandian, Kimora Sellers, Gabriella Sentosa, and Mai Lam
Introduction:
Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing symptoms such as fever, headache, joint pain, and rash. It can be severe and life-threatening, with no specific treatment available. Prevention involves controlling mosquito populations and avoiding mosquito bites.
Cause:
Dengue fever is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti.
Effects:
Dengue is caused by a virus that is transmitted through a mosquito bite. Other than the symptoms, dengue can have a lot of short term and long term effects on the human body. If patient does not seek treatment, dengue can cause damage to blood and lymph vessels which leads to dengue hemorrhagic fever, eventually causing death.
There are also long term effects on the human body such as:
Hair Fall
Alopecia
Joint Pain
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Neurological Abnormalities
Encephalopathy
Encephalitis
Syncope
Acute Symptomatic Seizures
Intracranial Haemorrhage
Hence, getting timely treatment for dengue becomes essential in order to prevent the long term damage to your body.
Risk Factor:
Living or traveling to tropical regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa, increases the potential danger of contracting dengue fever. Those with previous exposure to the virus or a history of dengue infection are more susceptible to severe symptoms. Urbanization, with factors such as high population density, human mobility, and access to water sources, can amplify the transmission of the disease. Climate change further exacerbates the risks in tropical and subtropical regions. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to eliminate mosquito vectors, promote positive practices, and educate individuals about dengue fever.
When to see doctor:
If you have recently been to countries at high risk of dengue fever and develop a fever or any other symptoms, please see health professionals and inform them about your travel history. While there’s no specific treatment for dengue fever, it’s always good to get more rest at home and wait for the fever to go away. However, as the fever goes away, patients should be cautious during this period and watch for warning signs such as,
Severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting
Red spots or patches on the skin
Bleeding from the nose or gums
Vomiting blood or blood in stools
Drowsiness or irritability
Pale, cold, or clammy skin
Difficulty breathing
These symptoms could be indicated to severe dengue, which about 1 in 20 people may develop. Please immediately return to the hospital and seek medical care.
Life Expectancy:
In general, the life expectancy of individuals with dengue fever is not significantly affected. Most people recover fully with proper medical care and management of symptoms. The majority of dengue cases are classified as dengue fever, which is a self-limiting illness. With adequate rest, hydration, and symptomatic treatment, the prognosis is typically good, and the recovery period is about 1-2 weeks. However, severe dengue, including hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, can be life-threatening if not promptly treated. These complications can lead to organ damage, severe bleeding, and shock. Early recognition with appropriate medical care can significantly decrease the mortality rate for severe dengue.
Who's more at risk:
If you frequently travel to or live in tropical and/or subtropical areas, your chances for encountering dengue fever increase greatly. High risk areas include but are not limited to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Western Pacific Islands. Almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue fever. Furthermore, if you had dengue fever in the past, your risk of having severe symptoms if you acquire it again spikes.
Treatment:
Dengue fever is usually and can be treated at home with pain relievers such as Acetaminophen (paracetamol) medicine. Adults can take 325-650 mg of paracetamol every 4-6 hours. However, for more severe pain, 1000 mg every 6 hours can be used. Adults and children have different dosage requirements. In children, the dose is 10-15 mg/kg per administration, with a maximum of 4 times a day. Thus, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. The treatment is on alleviating pain symptoms. In addition, it is critical to consult a doctor before using any specific medication.
Prevention:
The best way to prevent dengue fever is to avoid mosquito bites. This can be done by:
Wearing protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks
Using insect or mosquito repellents, even indoors
Sleeping under mosquito nets
Ensuring window and door screens are secure and free of holes
Eliminating mosquito breeding sites
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, or throw out items that hold water, such as buckets, planters, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
A vaccine for dengue fever is available for some people who live in areas where dengue is common, but it is not recommended for people who have never had dengue before.
Citation:
(Cover Image Source: Boston Children's Hospital)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Areas with Risk of Dengue." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Nov. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/media/avoid-dengue.html#:~:text=Use%20insect%20repellent%2C%20wear%20long,the%20bites%20of%20infected%20mosquitoes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Symptoms and Treatment." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Sept. 2021, www.cdc.gov/dengue/symptoms/index.html.
Cleveland Clinic. "Dengue Fever." Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17753-dengue-fever. Accessed 6 May 2023.
Dengue and severe dengue’ World Health Organization on 17 March 2023. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
General_alomedika, et al. “Indikasi Dan Dosis Paracetamol.” Alomedika, Alomedika, 8 Dec. 2022, www.alomedika.com/obat/analgesik/analgesik-non-narkotik-antipiretik/paracetamol/indikasi-dosis. Accessed 7 May. 2023.
Mayo Clinic. "Dengue fever." Mayo Clinic, 5 Oct. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20353078.
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