Dengue fever, also called as break bone fever, is a flu-like illness caused by the Dengue virus.
What exactly is dengue fever?
Dengue fever, often known as break bone fever, is a viral infection caused by the Dengue virus that is similar to the flu. The virus is spread when an uninfected individual is bitten by an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus.
This disease is frequent in tropical and subtropical climates across the world. According to the WHO, over 500,000 people need to be hospitalized each year. The great majority of instances occur in tropical regions of the world, with individuals in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Africa, and sections of Central and South America being particularly vulnerable.
As of October 13th, 2019, there were 67,000 instances of Dengue fever in India, according to figures provided by the Directorate of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
Dengue causes include
Dengue fever is caused by viruses such as DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
Once bitten by an infected human, the virus enters the mosquito. When a healthy individual is bitten by the sickness, the virus enters the person’s circulation and begins to spread. When a person recovers, he becomes immune to one virus but not to the others. When you catch Dengue fever for the second, third, or fourth time, your chances of developing severe Dengue fever, commonly known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, increase.
Dengue symptoms include
Dengue symptoms in teens and children are often difficult to identify from a normal fever. A temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and at least two of the following symptoms indicate dengue fever:
- Headache
- Muscle, bone and joint pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
- Swollen glands
- Rash
Mild dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome are the three types of fever that might be dangerous.
- Mild Dengue Fever – Symptoms emerge one week after the bite and can be severe or fatal. Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever – The symptoms are modest at first, but they might intensify over time.
- Dengue Shock Syndrome – A severe type of dengue that can result in death.
Treatment for Dengue
- There is no particular therapy or cure for dengue fever because it is caused by a virus. Depending on the severity of the sickness, prompt treatment may be beneficial. Some fundamental Dengue fever treatments are as follows:
- Pain relievers such as Tylenol or Paracetamol are routinely administered to patients. In extreme dehydration, IV drips are occasionally administered as a supplement.
- Stay hydrated: This is critical since we lose the bulk of our body fluids when we vomit or have a fever. Fluids should be consumed on a regular basis to keep the body from becoming dehydrated.
- Hygiene: It is critical to maintain good hygiene, especially when unwell. If a regular bath is not possible, the patient can take a sponge bath. Add a few drops of disinfection liquid, such as Dettol, to the bath water. It is also recommended that you use a hand sanitizer like Dettol before and after seeing the patient in the hospital. To eliminate the garments of bacteria, disinfect the water used to wash the patient’s clothes with Dettol.
