2. Contents:Contents:
What is dengue fever?
What are dengue fever signs and symptoms?
What areas are at high risk for contracting
dengue fever?
How is dengue fever contracted?
What is the treatment for dengue fever?
What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?
How can dengue fever be prevented?
3. What is dengue fever?What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of
viruses (genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae)
that are transmitted by mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti).
It is an acute illness of sudden onset that
usually follows a benign course with symptoms
such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe
muscle and joint pain, swollen glands
(lymphadenopathy), and rash.
4. Other names for DengueOther names for Dengue
Break bone fever- Victims of dengue
often have contortions due to the
intense joint and muscle pain
Dandy fever- Slaves in the West Indies
who contracted dengue said to have
dandy fever because of their postures
and gait
6. What are dengue fever signs andWhat are dengue fever signs and
symptoms?symptoms?
After being bitten by a mosquito
carrying the virus, the incubation period
ranges from three to 15 (usually five to
eight) days before the signs and
symptoms of dengue appear.
7. Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon
moving the eyes, and lower backache.
Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs
during the first hours of illness.
The temperature rises quickly as high as 104 F
(40 C), with relative slow heart rate
(bradycardia) and low blood pressure
(hypotension).
The eyes become reddened.
A flushing or pale pink rash comes over the
face and then disappears.
8. The glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and
groin are often swollen.
Fever and other signs of dengue last for two
to four days, followed by a rapid drop in body
temperature with profuse sweating.
This precedes a period with normal
temperature and a sense of well-being that
lasts about a day.
A second rapid rise in temperature follows.
9. A characteristic rash appears along with the
fever and spreads from the extremities to
cover the entire body except the face.
The palms and soles may be bright red and
swollen.
hemorrhagic tendency (positive Tourniquet
test, spontaneous bruising, bleeding from
mucosa, gingiva, injection sites, etc.; vomiting
blood, or bloody diarrhea)
10. Thrombocytopenia(<100,000 platelets
per mm³ or estimated as less than 3
platelets per high power field)
Evidence of plasma leakage
(hematocrit more than 20% higher than
expected, or drop in hematocrit of 20%
or more from baseline following IV fluid,
pleural effusion, ascites,
hypoproteinemia)
Encephalitic occurrences.
11. What areas are at high risk forWhat areas are at high risk for
contracting dengue fever?contracting dengue fever?
Dengue is prevalent throughout the
tropics and subtropics including
northern Argentina, northern Australia,
Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia,Colombia,
Panama, Paraguay, Philippines,
Malaysia etc..
12. How is dengue fever contracted?How is dengue fever contracted?
The virus is contracted from the bite of a
striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has
previously bitten an infected person. The
mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons
but can breed in water-filled flower pots,
plastic bags, and cans year-round. One
mosquito bite can inflict the disease.
13. The virus is not contagious and cannot
be spread directly from person to
person. There must be a person-to-
mosquito-to-another-person pathway.
14. What is the treatment for dengueWhat is the treatment for dengue
fever?fever?
There is no tested and approved vaccine for
the dengue flavivirus.
There is no specific medicine or antibiotic to
treat it.
For typical dengue, the treatment is purely
concerned with relief of the symptoms
(symptomatic). Close monitoring of vital signs
in the critical period
15. Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration
is important.
Supplementation with intravenous fluids may
be necessary to prevent dehydration and
significant concentration of the blood if the
patient is unable to maintain oral intake.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine may
be given for severe headache and for the
joint and muscle pain (myalgia)
16. Platelet transfusion may be indicated if the
platelet level drops significantly (below
20,000) or if there is significant bleeding The
presence of melena may indicate internal
gastrointestinal bleeding requiring platelet
and/or red blood cell transfusion.
Aspirn and non-steroidal infalammatory drugs
should be avoided as these drugs may
worsen the bleeding tendency
17. What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?
A more severe form of the viral illness
Tends to affect children under 10 years of
age.
It causes abdominal pain hemorrhage
(bleeding) circulatory collapse (shock).
DHF starts abruptly with high continuous
fever and headache.
There are respiratory and intestinal
symptoms with sore throat, cough, nausea,
vomiting, and abdominal pain.
18. Shock occurs two to six days after the start of
symptoms with sudden collapse, cool,
clammy extremities (the trunk is often warm),
weak pulse, and blueness around the mouth
(circumoral cyanosis).
19. Manifestations include:Manifestations include:
Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under
the skin)
Black stools, or easy bruising are all possible
signs of hemorrhage
spitting up blood (hematemesis)
blood in the stool (melena)
bleeding gums, and nosebleeds (epistaxis)
Pneumonia is common, and inflammation of
the heart (myocarditis) may be present.
20. Patients with DHF must be monitored closely for
the first few days since shock may occur or recur
precipitously (dengue shock syndrome).
Cyanotic (bluish) patients are given oxygen.
Vascular collapse (shock) requires immediate
fluid replacement.
Blood transfusions may be needed to control
bleeding.
The mortality (death) rate with DHF is significant.
It ranges from 6%-30%. Most deaths occur in
children. Infants under a year of age are
especially at risk of dying from DHF.
21. How can dengue fever be prevented?How can dengue fever be prevented?
The prevention of dengue requires control or
eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus
that causes dengue.
People are urged to empty stagnant water from
old tires, trash cans, and flower pots.
To prevent mosquito bites, wear long pants and
long sleeves or personal protection use
mosquito repellant sprays
Avoid visiting places where dengue is endemic.