Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Description:
The virus that causes dengue fever is called an arbovirus, which stands for arthropod-borne virus. Mosquitoes are a type of arthropod. In a number of regions, mosquitoes carry this virus and are responsible for passing it along to humans. These regions include the Middle East, the far East, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands. In these locations, the dengue fever arbovirus is endemic, meaning that the virus naturally and consistently lives in that location. The disease only shows up in the United States sporadically.In order to understand how dengue fever is transmitted, several terms need to be defined. The word "host" means an animal (including a human) that can be infected with a particular disease. The word "vector" means an organism that can carry a particular disease-causing agent (like a virus or bacteria) without actually developing the disease. The vector can then pass the virus or bacteria on to a new host.Many of the common illnesses in the United States (including the common cold, many viral causes of diarrhea, and influenza or "flu") are spread because the viruses that cause these illness can be passed directly from person to person. However, dengue fever cannot be passed directly from one infected person to another. Instead, the virus responsible for dengue fever requires an intermediate vector, a mosquito, that carries the virus from one host to another. The mosquito that carries the arbovirus responsible for dengue fever is the same type of mosquito that can transmit other diseases, including yellow fever. This mosquito is called Aedes egypti. The most common victims are children younger than 10 years of age.
Signs and Symptoms:
Early symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever are similar to those of dengue fever. But after several days the patient becomes irritable, restless, and sweaty. These symptoms are followed by a shock-like state.
Bleeding appears as tiny spots of blood on the skin (petechiae) and larger patches of blood under the skin (ecchymoses). Minor injuries can cause bleeding.
Shock can lead t death. If the patient survives, recovery begins after a one-day crisis period.
Early symptoms include:
Etiologic Agent:
Dengue Virus Types 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Chikunguya virus
Mode of Transmission:
Mosquito bite (Aedes Aegypti)
Incubation Period:
Uncertain. Probably 6 days to one week.
Prevention:
Here is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever. Use personal protection such as full-coverage clothing, mosquito nets, mosquito repellent containing DEET. If possible, travel during times of the day when mosquitos are not so active. Mosquito abatement (control) programs can also reduce the risk of infection.
The virus that causes dengue fever is called an arbovirus, which stands for arthropod-borne virus. Mosquitoes are a type of arthropod. In a number of regions, mosquitoes carry this virus and are responsible for passing it along to humans. These regions include the Middle East, the far East, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands. In these locations, the dengue fever arbovirus is endemic, meaning that the virus naturally and consistently lives in that location. The disease only shows up in the United States sporadically.In order to understand how dengue fever is transmitted, several terms need to be defined. The word "host" means an animal (including a human) that can be infected with a particular disease. The word "vector" means an organism that can carry a particular disease-causing agent (like a virus or bacteria) without actually developing the disease. The vector can then pass the virus or bacteria on to a new host.Many of the common illnesses in the United States (including the common cold, many viral causes of diarrhea, and influenza or "flu") are spread because the viruses that cause these illness can be passed directly from person to person. However, dengue fever cannot be passed directly from one infected person to another. Instead, the virus responsible for dengue fever requires an intermediate vector, a mosquito, that carries the virus from one host to another. The mosquito that carries the arbovirus responsible for dengue fever is the same type of mosquito that can transmit other diseases, including yellow fever. This mosquito is called Aedes egypti. The most common victims are children younger than 10 years of age.
Signs and Symptoms:
Early symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever are similar to those of dengue fever. But after several days the patient becomes irritable, restless, and sweaty. These symptoms are followed by a shock-like state.
Bleeding appears as tiny spots of blood on the skin (petechiae) and larger patches of blood under the skin (ecchymoses). Minor injuries can cause bleeding.
Shock can lead t death. If the patient survives, recovery begins after a one-day crisis period.
Early symptoms include:
- Decreased appetite
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint or muscle aches
- Malaise
- Vomiting
- Restlessness followed by:
- Ecchymosis
- Generalized rash
- Petechiae
- Worsening of earlier symptoms
- Shock-like state
- Cold, clammy extremities
- Sweating
Etiologic Agent:
Dengue Virus Types 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Chikunguya virus
Mode of Transmission:
Mosquito bite (Aedes Aegypti)
Incubation Period:
Uncertain. Probably 6 days to one week.
Prevention:
Here is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever. Use personal protection such as full-coverage clothing, mosquito nets, mosquito repellent containing DEET. If possible, travel during times of the day when mosquitos are not so active. Mosquito abatement (control) programs can also reduce the risk of infection.