January 1, 2011. I was informed that my good friend Roselyn had been hospitalized because of dengue. I was worried. I don't know her condition and my first reaction was fear. I don't know that much about that illness. All I know is that one can acquire it from a mosquito bite and that it is deadly. So I did a research so an ordinary citizen like me would be informed. Here are the common questions and answers that we must know about DENGUE:
What is dengue fever? What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?
Dengue fever is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue fever.
What is the infectious agent that causes dengue?
Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any of the dengue family of viruses. Infection with one virus does not protect a person against infection with another.
How is dengue spread?
Dengue is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else.
Where is dengue found?
Dengue viruses occur in most tropical areas of the world. Dengue is common in Africa, Asia, the Pacific,
The mosquitoes that transmit dengue live among humans and breed in discarded tires, flower pots, old oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings. Unlike the mosquitoes that cause malaria, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.
What are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever?
Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children.
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. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (dengue shock syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
The time between the bite of a mosquito carrying dengue virus and the start of symptoms averages 4 to 6 days, with a range of 3 to 14 days. An infected person cannot spread the infection to other persons but can be a source of dengue virus for mosquitoes for about 6 days.
How is dengue diagnosed?
Dengue is diagnosed by a blood test.
Who is at risk for dengue?
Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito can get dengue fever. Risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever include a person's age and immune status, as well as the type of infecting virus. Persons who were previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus are thought to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever if infected again.
What is the treatment for dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever?
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Persons with dengue fever should rest and drink plenty of fluids. They should be kept away from mosquitoes for the protection of others. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is treated by replacing lost fluids. Some patients need transfusions to control bleeding.
How can dengue be prevented?
-Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
-Replace water in flower vases once a week.
-Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
-Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
-Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.
-Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.
-Replace water in flower vases once a week.
-Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
-Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
-Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.
-Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.
REFERENCE:
No comments:
Post a Comment