Dengue
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, Dengue is also known as “breakbone fever”.
Flavivirus is spread by Aedes species mosquitoes, also known as ‘Tiger mosquito’ due to the presence of black and white strips on the legs and abdomen. causes dengue. The incubation period is normally 3 to 7 days and symptoms usually resolve within 10 to 12 days.
Sign & symptoms
Most commonly it is characterized by High-grade fever, headache, vomiting, severe myalgia, joint pains, retro-orbital pain, and a characteristic skin itching and maculopapular skin rash (petechiae).
In severe cases, there is spontaneous bleeding, low platelet counts, blood plasma leakage, organ impairment, and shock.
Recovery usually takes 7 days for dengue fever, but sometimes it reverts into severe dengue-like hemorrhagic dengue and dengue shock syndrome.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is primarily based on clinical. The presence of thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hemoconcentration is suggestive.
Blood tests are available for diagnosis, including detecting viral RNA or antibodies to the virus.
Confirmatory tests with PCR or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can detect the NS1 antigen or immunoglobulin M antibodies.
A tourniquet test is done in a patient with dengue for the Measurement of petechiae, Twenty or more petechiae in the template area are suggestive of dengue diagnosis.
Dengue should be considered if any person recently returned particularly travelers from the Caribbean or Southeast Asia with fever, headache, and myalgia.
Management
There is no specific treatment for dengue. In mild cases, supportive therapy is helpful. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive care with analgesics, fluid replacement, and bed rest.
Severe cases of dengue fever do require hospitalization, Treatment modes include intravenous fluids and transfusion with platelets or plasma.
Prevention
Use mosquito repellent (cream or nets)
Wear protective clothing
Do not let rainwater accumulate where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.