What & why

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection which in recent years has become as major international public health concern. Dengue is found in tropical & sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban& peri-urban areas. It presents with three categories:
1. Classical Dengue Fever
2. Dengue hemorrhagic Fever (DHF).
3. Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).

Prevalence

Before 1970 only 9 countries had experienced DHF epidemics, but in 1995 about 2500 million people- two fifths of the world’s population are now at risk from dengue. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-east Asia & the Western Pacific.

Transmission

Dengue Fever is transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female Aedes mosquitoes.

Characteristics

Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children & adults but rarely cause death. The clinical feature of dengue fever varies according to the age of the patient.
1. Infants & young children may have a non-specific febrile illness with rash.
2. Older children & adults may have either mild febrile syndrome or high fever (400-410 C), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle & joint pains & rash.
3. DHF is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever , hemorrhagic phenomena often with enlargement of the liver & in severe cases circulatory failure.

Treatment
There is no specific Rx for dengue fever. However, careful clinical management by experienced physicians & nurses frequently save the lives of DHF patients. With appropriate intensive supportive therapy, mortality may be reduced to less than 1%.
1. Maintenance of the circulating fluid volume.
2. Paracetamol like drugs for fever.
References:
1. WHO press release, Fact Sheets & Features.
2. PanBio Pty. Ltd. Brisbane, Australia.