OUTLINES

Introduction
Nowadays many people suffer from dengue. Dengue fever is an
infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any four related dengue
viruses. This disease used to be called break-bone fever because it sometimes
causes severe joint and muscle pain. Dengue fever is a quite dangerous febrile
(Feverish) disease can be found in the tropics and Africa. Dengue fever is
transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also transmits diseases as yellow
fever.
Health experts have known about dengue fever from more than
200 years. Dengue or dengue-like epidemics were reported throughout the 19th
and early 20th centuries in America, southern Europe, north Africa,
the eastern Mediterranean, Asia and Australia and various Islands in the Indian
Ocean, the south and central Pacific and the Caribbean. It has steadily
increased in both incidence and distribution over the past 40 years. Annually,
it is estimated that there are 20 million cases of dengue infection, resulting
in around 24,000 deaths. Dengue fever is a flu-like viral disease common
throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, mainly in
urban and pre-urban areas. Today, it afflicts (cause physical pain and
suffering) an estimated 50 million to 100 million in the tropics.

The symptoms of dengue

fever are severe headache, pain in the muscles and joints, and rash that can be
described as small red spots. Some patients experience gastritis, diarrhea,
vomiting and abdominal pain. Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high
fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in the muscles and joints. A
rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. Nausea, vomiting
and loss of appetite are common.

Each type of the dengue virus is re-emerging worldwide,

especially in the western hemisphere. Researches have shown that several
factors are contributing to the resurgence dengue fever such as uncontrolled
urbanization, increased international travel, substandard socio-economic
conditions, and finally global warming. Global warming has shown to be a major
contributor to the spread of dengue fever. Global warming can cause dry spells
in some countries and increased rainfall and humidity in others. The dry spells
reduce small medium bodies of water like springs and ponds to small puddles
that become potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Likewise increased
rainfall and humidity also leads to collection of water that affords possible
breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes Aegypti, a domestic, day-biting

mosquito that prefers to bite humans. They breed in clean water. Currently
there is no vaccine available to prevent dengue. Scientists are also trying to
invent a vaccine against dengue fever, but the researches are only at the stage
of experiments yet. The only treatment is rest and intake of plenty of fluids
like water, juices, milk etc.

The researchers therefore conclude that dengue fever should

be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever and rash in the returning
traveler. Dermatologists should be aware of the distinctive exanthema of dengue
fever. Recognition of the dengue fever rash permits a rapid and early
diagnosis, which is critical as dengue fever can progress to life-threatening
dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which is fatal and
obviously
can cause death to the victim.