What is a Dengue Fever

WHAT IS A DENGUE FEVER: Dengue Fever is caused by four strains of virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 & DENV-4). These viruses are developed in arthropods (mosquitoes and ticks) through proteins interactions (evolution) in the body of the insect. The replication of Dengue serotypes is so fast once infected in human body through bites (one bite is enough to cause the full spectrum of disease) that it beats the immunity system that activates to kill the viruses. The result is prevalence of the virus population in the infected human body. This virus then enters into the blood stream of the bitten person and is hosted by white blood cells, where they replicate very fast. Also reproduction of this virus in the infected human gets homed in other parts of the body including liver. SYMPTOMS The overall parasitic infiltration of these genomes causes flu-like fever, rashes, headache and backache as well, in the initial stage. In extreme cases Haemorrhagic Dengue (Dengue Shock Syndrome) develops at later stage. This is mainly attributed to weak antibody-dependent-enhancement (ADE). The patient starts bleeding through nose and mouth. Fatality rate in such condition is from 5 to 20%. IS DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC Directly NO, indirectly YES. NO in the sense it is not contagious disease that prevents even the relatives to come closer to the patient. In other words, it is partly not a person to person catching fever. YES has a long explanation. To cut a long explanation short, when a common female insect bites a Dengue patient, the blood sucked by it enters into its body and the common mosquito is transformed into a Dengue virus carrier. When it bites a healthy person, one sting is enough to cause him fall victim of Dengue Fever disease. In this way, Dengue fever becomes epidemic in the locality. If Dengue infected person travels from one city to another, he is a carrier of this disease to other city as well. The incubation period of Dangue strain is 8-13 days, so the travelling person themselves do not know if they had caught the disease or not. This causes Dengue fever extending its spreading to other areas. WHAT IS THE REMEDIAL TREATMENT None. No antibiotic medicine is effective to these four strains has been discovered and prepared by any laboratory of the world. The only treatment is for the easing of pain and fever like dosage of dispirin, codeine & Tylenol (for severe headache and joint and muscle pains) and a constant intake of water. In severe cases blood transfusion or inject of platlets is given. The life span of the Dengue strain is from 5 to 8 days in the human body. It is worthwhile to mention that severe Dengue fever occurs mostly because a patient of one strain is again infiltrated by another strain through mosquito bite one more time. DIAGNOSIS When high fever, headache and backache, burning of eyes, abdominal pain occurs do not waste time. Visit a recognized hospital immediately. These symptoms are similar in other diseases as well. Therefore, blood test in lab is a must to establish Low White Blood Cell Count or otherwise. Presence of Dengue specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) in the blood is more authentic to confirm the disease. Bear in mind, at the early stage of the disease, all blood tests would show negative results, only when virus has taken over the infected persons body actively the result would show positive. So only a qualified doctor can prescribe when to take blood test in lab.

WHAT IS THE PREVENTION Mosquito eradication all the time. Fumigation and spray of insecticide in the areas where cases of Dengue Fever has been identified. Keep all open water storage covered such that mosquitoes do not lay their eggs on water surface. Even, do not leave some water in pots for mosquitoes nasty work. Remember, female mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in close proximity of humans to get blood meal easily. So they tend to lay their eggs on favorite water surface found in the houses. Use nets for sleeping. Do not leave all the matters on the municipality self help is much stronger. Dengue strains mosquitoes mostly bite at dawn and dusk hours. The common mosquitoes bite any time and as explained above they may be carriers. One bite of a certain strain gives life immunity, but not from all the other strains. I have written this specifically after watching the news on TV that a cricket player (sorry I have forgotten his name) has recaught the Dengue Fever. May Allah give him full rapid recovery.