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More Diseases and Conditions Topics
Dengue Fever - symptom, Treatment of Dengue Fever
Dengue Fever Information
Dengue Fever is a type of fever caused by an RNA virus(flavivirus) and transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti. 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. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue fever which is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else. Because this illness may lead to potentially severe complications, you should contact your doctor immediately if you suspect that you have dengue fever. With a diagnosis of Dengue fever, it is also important to consider whether there is an underlying condition causing Dengue fever.
Dengue fever can occur when a mosquito carrying the arbovirus bites a human, passing the virus on to the new host. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. With dengue hemorrhagic fever, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. There are no medications available that can cure dengue fever. Treatment addresses the symptoms and attempts to avoid potential complications. However, in some cases a person may have already had dengue fever at one time, recovered, and then is reinfected with the virus. In these cases, the first infection teaches the immune system to recognize the presence of the arbovirus.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
- Sudden onset of fever, headache, backache
- Muscle pain is so severe that the illness is often called 'bone break fever'
- Rash may break out over the face and trunk
- Headaches
- Severe pain behind the eyes
- Fever, chills
- Red throat
- Nasal congestion
- Muscle pain
- Bone pain
- Skin symptoms:
- Reddened skin
- Increased sensitivity of skin to touch
- Skin rash
- Purple spots on the skin
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Liver and spleen enlargement
- Hepatitis
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Minor bleeding from gums, nosebleeds, blood in urine and stool
- During recovery:
- Low energy
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Bleeding from the nose and other sites may occur.
Causes of Dengue Fever
Dengue virus ( 4 varieties) , transmitted into the blood by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Dengue Shock Syndrome or Dengue Hermorrhagic fever
Treatment of Dengue Fever
- Treatment is supportive. Bed rest, adequate hydration and nutrition are adequate to wait out the course of the uncomplicated disease. Complications require hospitalization for the treatment of shock - intravenous fluid/plasma/blood transfusions may be needed. Dengue Hermorrhagic fever can be life threatening.
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