Dengue

Causative agent: Aedes aegypti

Genus: Flavivirus

Family: Flaviviridae

Flight range: 400 meters (average)

Other vectors of Dengue:

Aedes albopictus

Aedes polynesiensis

Aedes scutellaris complex.

What is dengue?
Dengue (DENG-gey) fever is a mosquito-borne disease that
occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue
fever causes high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. A
severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic
fever, can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood
pressure (shock) and death.
It is fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease in many parts of
the world. Dengue flourishes in urban poor areas, suburbs and
the countryside but also affects more affluent neighborhoods in
tropical and subtropical countries.
DENGUE SEROTYPES
These four viruses are called
serotypes because each has
DEN-1
different interactions with the
antibodies in human blood serum.
The four dengue viruses are
DEN-2
similar they share
approximately 65% of their
genomes but even within a
DEN-3
single serotype, there is some
genetic variation. Despite these
variations, infection with each of
DEN-4
the dengue serotypes results in
the same disease and range of
clinical symptoms.
DENGUE FEVER
Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses spread by
mosquitoes that thrive in and near human lodgings. When a mosquito
bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the
mosquito. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the
virus enters that person's bloodstream.
After you've recovered from dengue fever, you have immunity to the
virus that infected you but not to the other three dengue fever viruses.
The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known as dengue
hemorrhagic fever, actually increases if you're infected a second, third or
fourth time.
The mosquito
Within the mosquito, the virus
infects the mosquito mid-gut and
subsequently spreads to the
salivary glands over a period of 8-
12 days. After this incubation
period, the virus can be
transmitted to humans during
subsequent probing or feeding.
The immature stages are found in
water-filled habitats, mostly in
artificial containers closely
The most common epidemic vector of dengue in
associated with human dwellings the world is the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It can
and often indoors. be identified by the white bands or scale patterns
on its legs and thorax.
Sign and Symptoms
Many people, especially children and teens, may experience no
signs or symptoms during a mild case of dengue fever. When
symptoms do occur, they usually begin 4 to 10 days after you are
bitten by an infected mosquito. Signs and symptoms of dengue
fever most commonly include:
Fever, as high as 106 F (41 C)
Headaches
Muscle, bone and joint pain
Pain behind your eyes
Widespread rash
Nausea and vomiting
Rarely, minor bleeding from your gums or nose
Factors that put you at greater risk of developing
dengue fever or a more severe form of the disease
include:
Living or traveling in tropical areas. Being in tropical and
subtropical areas increases your risk of exposure to the virus that
causes dengue fever. Especially high-risk areas are Southeast
Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Prior infection with a dengue fever virus. Previous infection
with a dengue fever virus increases your risk of having severe
symptoms if you're infected again.
Diagnosing Dengue Fever

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or
antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor
know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were
caused by a dengue infection.
 Complications
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)
DHF is one of the complicated diseases which can turn fatal. DHF is the fever which occurs only
when the person is prone to dengue for more than one time. DHF is very similar to the
symptoms of dengue fever. DHF is the fever which is very critical in nature than dengue fever.
The symptoms for DHF are as follows:
After the fever, for 2-5 days the symptoms start appearing. The health of the patient decreases
after the few days of the fever. Blood vessels often become damaged and leaky. And the
number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your bloodstream drops. This can cause:
Bleeding from your nose and mouth
Severe abdominal pain
Persistent vomiting
Petechiae, bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
Problems with your lungs, liver and heart
In some cases it is found that after resolving of the fever, there is failure in the functioning of the
circulatory system caused which turns into shock and leads to death of the patient within 12 to 24
hours.
Danger Signs in Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever
Abdominal pain - intense and sustained
Persistent vomiting
Abrupt change from fever to hypothermia, with sweating and
prostration
Restlessness or somnolence

All of these are signs of impending shock and should alert

clinicians that the patient needs close observation and fluids.
Clinical Case Definition for
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
(W.H.O)
4 Necessary Criteria:

1. Fever, or recent history of acute fever

2. Hemorrhagic manifestations
3. Low platelet count (100,000/mm3 or less)
4. Objective evidence of leaky capillaries:
elevated hematocrit (20% or more over baseline)
low albumin
pleural or other effusions
Dengue Shock Syndrome
If the person is aware about the signs and symptoms of dengue
than the patient can survive by taking proper medical treatment.
DSS is one of the severe situations of a dengue which can lead
the patient to get hospitalized, in case the following symptoms
are found. They are as follows:
Pain in abdominal part of the body
Vomiting accompanied by the flow of minor blood
Body temperature star getting fluctuated
Blood pressure of the body getting low
Irritation in the nature
Treatment
No specific treatment for dengue fever exists. Your doctor may
recommend that you drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
from vomiting and high fever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
can alleviate pain and reduce fever. Avoid pain relievers that can
increase bleeding complications such as aspirin, ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others).
If you have severe dengue fever, you may need:
Monitor hematocrit and platelet count.
Intravenous (IV) fluid and electrolyte replacement
Blood pressure monitoring
Transfusion to replace blood loss
Prevention
Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened
housing. It's particularly important to
keep mosquitoes out at night.
Reschedule outdoor activities. Avoid
being outdoors at dawn, dusk and early
evening, when more mosquitoes are out.
Wear protective clothing. When you go
into mosquito-infested areas, wear a
long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and
shoes.
Use mosquito repellant.
Reduce mosquito habitat