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Dengue fever is a flu-like illness
spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that is infected
with a dengue virus. |
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Key Points
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Dengue is caused by a
member of the virus family Flaviviridae |
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It is transmitted by
mosquitoes- Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus |
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No direct human to
human transmission is known. |
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All tropical parts of
world, both urban and rural are affected |
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Though Year-round
transmission is possible, but rainy season increases
mosquito breeding. |
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Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms usually occur within 5 to 6 days after the bite of
an infected mosquito, but they may be delayed for up to 2
weeks. Dengue Fever is diagnosed by clinical symptoms and by
specific blood tests.Characterstic symptoms include: |
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High fever that may
last from 5 to 7 days |
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Intense headache. |
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Painful joints and
muscles. |
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Pain behind eyes. |
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Often a rash (may
appear as fever reduces) which is characteristically
bright red spots (petechia) and usually appears
first on the lower limbs and the chest - in some
patients; it spreads to cover most of the body. |
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Serious complications
can occur - hemorrhagic or shock syndrome. |
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Bleeding under skin,
gums, nose, or blood in vomit. |
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Aedes mosquito |
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Prevention:
To prevent the spread of dengue fever, we must first prevent
the breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes
mosquito is easily identifiable by its distinctive black and
white stripes on their body. It prefers to breed in clean,
stagnant water easily found in our homes. We can get rid of
the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing
stagnant water in your premises. Some methods are as
follows: |
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Environmental
Cleanup of Breeding Containers: |
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Old tyres: Dispose,
cover, or fill with earth |
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Water storage (tanks,
drums, jars, overhead tanks, coolers). |
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Cover to keep out
mosquitoes (can use rustproof mesh or screen). |
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Add temephos to kill
larvae in the water. |
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Small containers and
garbage like tins, bottles, coconut shells, garbage,
anything that collects water: clean up / bury /
burn. |
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Cooler and drip-pans,
flower pots, animal water dish, ant traps, etc.:
Empty water every week, both indoors and outdoors |
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Tyres collect rainwater – dispose or cover |
Overhead
storage need tight covers
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Cover water jars, drums, coolers and tanks |
Flower pot with water collection – empty weekly |
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Regular Preventive Action:
Every week have “Dry Day”. |
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Cleanup, drain, empty,
or change all standing water in your compound, both
indoors and outdoors. Check water storage. |
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Tank cover in good
condition. |
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Check no larvae
swimming in water. |
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Can treat with Abate®
(temephos) (or use fish in ponds). |
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Personal Prevention: |
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Mosquito repellant
when outdoors during daytime. |
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Fly-wire/screening on
doors and windows. |
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Mosquito coils or
vapor mats. |
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Mosquito nets for
children or elderly who sleep during the day. |
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None of these are
effective by themselves alone, use combination. |
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Recognition and Early Management:
Treatment: No specific treatment for Dengue is available.
Supportive and symptomatic treatment for non–serious
patients. |
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Pain relief, drink
fluids, rest. |
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Use paracetamol for
fever. |
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Do not use aspirin (salicyclic
acid), do not use ibuprofen. |
WATCH for bleeding symptoms of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever |
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Rush immediately to hospital if
following symptoms appear with high fever : |
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Blood spots under the
skin (petechiae). |
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Bleeding from gums and
nose bleeding (epistaxis). |
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Vomiting blood (hematemesis). |
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Patients remain ill
(despite drop in temperature) and clinical situation
deteriorates. |
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Clammy skin, cold and
sweaty extremities, drowsiness, and/or restlessness. |
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