Dengue Fever Symptoms, Causes And Its Treatments
Dengue Fever – A mosquito-borne viral infection called dengue is still spreading rapidly throughout the world. It is known to cause a wide range of illnesses, from almost completely asymptomatic infections to flu-like symptoms. Rarely, some people can develop severe dengue fever, which can be fatal if left untreated.
- Through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, the dengue virus is transmitted to humans. These mosquitoes can transmit other viruses such as Zika and Chikungunya.
- 4 billion people, or about half of the world’s population, live in areas at risk of dengue. In risk areas, dengue fever is usually the main cause of this disease.
- Up to 400 million people suffer from dengue every year. Worldwide, one hundred million people are infected, and severe dengue fever kills 40,000 people.
- The disease is caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses (dengue viruses 1, 2, 3 and 4). Because of this, a person can become infected with dengue virus up to four times in a lifetime.
Symptoms Of Dengue Fever
Dengue fever symptoms usually appear 4 to 6 days after infection and can last up to 10 days. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Other illnesses that cause fever, pain, and rash may be confused with symptoms.
Here are some of the more typical symptoms of dengue:
- Sudden high temperature or fever
- Nausea
- Vomit
- Rashes on skin (which may appear 2 to 5 days after the onset of the fever)
- Fatigue
- Strong headache
- Severe back and body pain
In addition, there are warning signs that may indicate severe dengue. These warning signs usually appear 24 to 48 hours after the temperature drops. Within hours, severe dengue fever can be fatal and require hospitalization:
- Stomach or abdominal pain or tenderness
- Repeated vomiting with dehydration
- Blood in the stool or vomiting blood
- Fatigue, restlessness, or deterioration
- Low platelets with bleeding from the nose, brain, gums, muscles, joints, and stomach (dengue hemorrhagic fever)
- Decreased blood pressure or hypotension (dengue shock syndrome)
- Episodes of confusion and fainting
View More: How To Increase Blood Platelets In Dengue – 6 Best Foods To Eat
Causes Of Dengue Fever
Causes of dengue fever may include:
- Any of the four types of dengue virus can cause dengue fever.
- If you are near someone who has dengue fever, you will not get infected.
- On the other hand, mosquito bites are a way of transmitting dengue fever.
The two types of mosquitoes that most commonly spread dengue virus are found in and around residential areas. The dengue virus enters a mosquito by biting an infected person. The virus then enters the bloodstream of a person bitten by an infected mosquito and causes an infection.
After recovering from dengue, you become immune to the type of virus that causes the infection for life, but not to the other three types that cause dengue. This indicates that one of the other three types of virus may infect you again in the future. If you get dengue a second, third, or fourth time, your risk of getting severe dengue increases.
Treatment Of Dengue Fever
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Dengue treatment consists of controlling the symptoms.
Drink plenty of fluids while you recover from dengue. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of dehydration:
- Decreased urination
- Few or no tears
- Dry mouth or lips
- Lethargy or confusion
- Cold or wet extremities
You must:
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Get plenty of rest
- Using pain relievers such as Tylenol or acetaminophen can also help reduce fever.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen are not suitable as they can increase the risk of internal bleeding.
If you have severe dengue, you may need:
- Hospital supportive care
- Intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Transfusion to compensate for blood loss.
The Bottom Line
Dengue affects hundreds of millions of people each year. The idea of severe dengue can be frightening, although most cases are mild or even asymptomatic. Even the word for the evil spirit believed to be the cause of the disease may have inspired the word dengue.
Fortunately, you can take precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and pay attention to the warning signs of severe dengue. Make sure you know where to go for emergency medical care if you get sick while traveling.
If you get medical attention right away, you are likely to recover if you are seriously ill with dengue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days will dengue fever last?
Dengue symptoms usually last 2 to 7 days. Most people recover in about a week.
What are the 4 stages of dengue fever?
Dengue is caused by the dengue virus which has four serotypes: dengue 1, dengue 2, dengue 3 and dengue 4. Primary infection usually results in a milder form of the disease, while more severe disease occurs in cases of reinfection with a different serotype.
What not to eat in dengue?
Some foods to avoid include fatty and fried foods, caffeine, soft drinks, spicy foods, and high-fat foods.