Dengue Fever - Prevention and Information

Dengue or Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease. It is caused by the dengue virus. Dengue virus is a mosquito borne single positive stranded RNA virus from the family Flaviviridae. 

This virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquito bite. Aedes mosquito is scietifically known as Aedes aegypti. It is also called yellow fever mosquito. It can be recognized by white markings on its legs and a marking in the form of a Greek stringed musical instrument called 'lyre' on its throax. 

Humans are the primary host of this virus. A single bite of the aforesaid mosquito is sufficient to harvest the dengue fever in a human body. Dengue can be life threatening in people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.

Dengue is a Spanish word. It means careful. 

The disease is also known as Break bone Fever.

The Process of attack

When a mosquito carrying the dengue virus bites a person, the virus enters the human body through the mosquito's saliva. It enters the white Blood cells and reproduces itself. White Blood Cells which are also known as Leukocytes, are cells of the immune system. Immune system basically works to defend the body from infectious disease and foreign materials. Now due to the presence of the virus, which is pathogens for the body, the White Blood Cells (WBC) release proteins, like 'Interferons' and spreads to cells of the whole body. This process results in fever and severe pain.

In fatal cases (which can cause death) the virus production inside the body takes place rapidly which results in the infection of the vital organs. The dengue virus causes the blood vessels to swell and leak, creating small purple colored spots on the skin, called 'petechiae'. The damaged blood vessels eventually become so large that they are unable to supply the needed blood flow and the oxygen it carries to the body's tissues. This causes the body to go into shock and can damage vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and in this way the patient dies.

Symptoms

1. Fever - The incubation period is 3 to 14 days.

2. Head ache 

3. Muscle pain 

4. Joint pain 

5. Skin rash - similar to measles - It is the change in the color, appearence or texture of the skin.

6. Common cold 

7. Vomiting 

8. Diarrhea 

9. Abdominal pain - in severe case.

10. Mucosal bleeding - in severe case.

11. Low blood pressure - Extreme low blood pressure leads to death.

12. Turning of the eyes to red 

13. Swollen glands in the neck

14. Chills - Chills are feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering.

Preventions

         There is currently no vaccine available for dengue fever. Hence the only way is to reduce the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and following measures to minimizing the exposure to bites. This can be achieved through these steps –

1.   Keeping clean man-made containers like earthenware jars, metal drums and concrete cisterns used for domestic   water   storage, discarded plastic food containers, used automobile tyres and other items that collect rainwater so as to discourage the mosquitoes from breeding eggs at these places.

 2.   Applying insecticides or biological control agents in the area. (However, this can be   done cautiously, as it  can lead to other related problems)

 3.   By wearing clothing that fully covers the skin.

 4.   By using mosquito netting in the house.

 5.   By Eliminating mosquito breeding sites around homes. 

 6.   By Regularly changing the water in the containers.  

 7.   Avoiding mosquito bite even during day time. 

         The Dengue virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway. 

         Today Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) affects most of the Asian countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death in the region. 

         Two vaccines have advanced to evaluation for human application in the countries with endemic disease and several potential vaccines are in earlier stages of development. 

         The World Health Organization (WHO) provides technical advice and guidance to countries and private partners to support vaccine research and evaluation.