Dengue fever symptoms

      Dengue fever is a very common disease in many tropical countries, especially South America, sub-Saharan Africa, India and Southeast Asia. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus. After 1-2 days of incubation the next dengue fever symptoms appear: high fever, joint pain, reddish spots on the skin. Other dengue fever symptoms are headache and muscle pain. In some cases the patient also feels loss of appetite or a vomiting sensation.
       Dengue fever may be complicated and result in Dengue hemorrhagic fever. This complication usually occurs in people who have previously suffered from this disease. Initially it produces more bleeding in various places in the body and there are some small red spots (petechiae) in the skin that occur because of small blood vessels rupture in the skin. Then may also occur disseminated intravascular coagulation, or blood coagulates in blood vessels. This is a body reaction to lack of oxygen due to blood loss.
       Dengue fever symptoms usually appear after 4 to 7 days. These are usually symptoms similar to influenza, such as high fever or pain behind the eyes. Dengue fever is also called breakbone fever because of the joint pain. Some people show no symptoms. In more severe cases, infected people (about 1%) may suffer from dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever can possibly cause a shock. With adequate medical care, death occurs in only 1% of cases.

Clinical dengue fever symptoms

       Generally mild, dengue fever usually heals spontaneously within a week without sequelae. In some sever case it can be fatal. The incubation period of dengue virus lasts 48 hours to 7 days but more rarely up to 15 days. After this incubation period, the early physical symptoms caused by the disease are felt.
        Dengue fever symptoms in fact reflect the immune response of our body:

• High fever (39 ° - 40 °)
• Asthenia
• Severe headache
• Intense muscle pain and joint pain (arthralgia)
• Macular erythematous rash
• Generalized lymphadenopathy
• Moderate hepatomegaly.

       Typically fever reappears a few days later. In most cases the dengue fever symptoms have short life. But sometimes, there is a severe worsening of the condition with an increase of dengue fever symptoms, and clinical signs indicate a coagulation disorder (level tasks purpuric skin bleeding from the nose or gums). This transformation of the disease between the second and the fifth day guide to the more severe form of hemorrhagic dengue especially if one is in a context of strong epidemiological prevalence of this form.
       Recovery time is usually very long.

Dengue is an acute, febrile infectious disease caused by a virus of Flaviridae family and is transmitted through the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Currently, dengue fever is considered a major public health problems world wide.
       Worldwide, there are four types of dengue fever since the virus causing the disease has four serotypes: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.

Dengue fever symptoms

       Dengue can present clinically in four different ways: silent infection, dengue fever, Dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Among them stand out classical dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever.
        ...read a complete description of dengue fever symptoms: Dengue fever symptoms

Dengue fever treatment

        If you have fever and headache you should take paracetamol and you should avoid as much as possible aspirin because it can cause bleeding. There is no specific treatment and the patient should treat symptoms.

Dengue fever vaccine

       There is no dengue fever vaccine but exists some possible vaccines. Specialists work hard in order to establish which is the most indicated.

Silent infection

       The person is infected with the virus but shows no symptoms. The vast majority of dengue infections have no symptoms.

Classic dengue fever

       Dengue fever lasts for 5-7 days. The infected person has high fever (39 ° to 40 ° C), headache, tiredness, muscle aches and joint pain, malaise, nausea, vomiting, red spots on the skin, abdominal pain (especially in children).
       The dengue fever symptoms are lasting up to one week. After this period, the person may still feel tired and unwell.

Dengue Hemorrhagic

       Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a serious disease and is characterized by changes in blood coagulation of the infected person. Initially is resembling dengue classic, but after the third or fourth day of the disease arise bleeding because of the bleeding of small vessels and in the internal organs. Among dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms are nosebleeds, gingival, urinary, gastrointestinal or uterine bleeds. In dengue hemorrhagic fever, the patient's blood pressure drops, which can cause dizziness, collapse and shock. If the disease is not treated quickly, can lead to death.
        ...read a complete description of dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms: Dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms.

Dengue shock syndrome

       This is the most serious presentation of dengue fever and is characterized by a large drop or absence of blood pressure. The person affected by the disease has an almost imperceptible pulse, restlessness, pallor and loss of consciousness. In this type of presentation of the disease, there are records of various complications such as neurological, cardio respiratory problems, liver failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and pleural effusion.
       Among the main neurological manifestations, are: delirium, drowsiness, depression, coma, extreme irritability, psychosis, dementia, amnesia, paralysis and signs of meningitis. If the disease is not treated quickly, can lead to death.
       Dengue fever is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is causing a severe flu-like illness and sometimes potentially lethal complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever. Globally, the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades. About two-fifths of the world's population are now at risk. Dengue is found in the tropics and subtropics of the world, with a predilection for urban and semi-urban areas. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a major cause of illness and death among children in some Asian countries. There is no specific treatment, but medical care is frequently adapted to the life of patients suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever. The only way to prevent transmission of dengue hemorrhagic fever is to fight against the mosquito vectors.
        Dengue hemorrhagic fever, was recognized for the first time in 50 years during epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand, but today is found in most Asian countries and in many of them, it is now a major cause of hospitalization and mortality for children.
       The four dengue viruses are very closely related. Infection with a second virus, increases the risk of more serious disease with bleeding complication. The global impact of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades. Approximately 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world population, are now at risk. In 2007 alone, over 890,000 cases were reported in the Americas, including 26,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever. In 2007, Venezuela reported over 80,000 cases, including at least 6,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Other statistics:

• It is estimated that each year are 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, including a very high proportion of children which require hospitalization. Death occurs in at least 2.5% of cases.
• Without proper treatment, the fatality rate of dengue hemorrhagic fever can exceed 20%. Doctors and nurses who know how to recognize symptoms and treat the effects, can reduce death rates to less than 1%. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a serious illness, with an increased risk of mortality. It is caused by Marburg virus, which is part of the same family as Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus producing. These are some of the most virulent pathogens known.

       The disease has a sudden onset with severe headache, located mainly at frontal and occipital bones. The early symptoms are not specific and therefore clinical diagnosis is made difficult. Acute phase is characterized by fever, abdominal pain and cramps, severe diarrhea, nausea.
       Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), is a potentially fatal disease, and it is characterized by loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, symptoms of shock and bleeding from the nose or under the skin. The occurrence of DHF may be associated with those who suffer a second infection or immunodeficiency, or who are under 15 years. DHF can be fatal.

Dengue fever prevention

       Even if it doesn't exist any vaccine there are some personal measures that everyone can take in order to avoid dengue. The most important thing is to avoid areas where the mosquitoes are present. People should cover up and use an insect repellent. You should take care because the repellent can be dangerous if you don't wash your hands after you used it.Take care with kids because their skin is more sensitive. It is very well if you can sleep under a net treated with insecticide.