WHAT IS DENGUE FEVER? WHAT IS DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER? Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that is infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected with dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue virus in their blood. The person can either have symptoms of dengue fever or DHF, or they may have no symptoms. After about one week, the mosquito can then transmit the virus while biting a healthy person. Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person. WHAT IS THE INFECTIOUS AGENT THAT CAUSES DENGUE?

Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any of the dengue family of viruses. Infection with one virus does not protect a person against infection with another.

HOW IS DENGUE SPREAD? The dengue fever cannot be transmitted from one person to another person directly, so the dengue is not at all a contagious disease. A certain type of dengue mosquito is responsible for transmitting the dengue fever from one person to another person. The name of that certain kind of mosquito is Aedes agypti. When a that kind of mosquito bites a person suffering from dengue, the dengue virus is transmitted from the affected person to that mosquito, and when that mosquito bites a healthy man, the virus is get transmitted from the mosquito to that healthy man, and the healthy person gets affected from dengue.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DENGUE FEVER AND DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER? Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue

hemorrhagic fever. With dengue hemorrhagic fever, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. Without prompt

treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (dengue shock syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of dengue fever normally involves testing of the patient’s blood. Clinical lab findings would include "low levels of white blood cells (leukopenia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia) and, often, an elevated level of the enzyme serum aminotransferase."

A normal person’s blood platelet count is from 150,000 to 450,000. When a dengue patient’s blood platelets drop to 80,000 and below, there is potential risk of hemorrhaging. It is important for the patient to be admitted in the hospital for constant blood platelet monitoring.

TEST KITS FOR EARLY DETECTION

Normal routine tests for dengue viral infection are

centered on the detection of specific dengue virus

antibodies which are only produced several days

after the initial clinical signs appear. That means

one should wait for four to six days for a primary

infection.

However, dengue test

kits that detect

antigens, instead of

antibodies, are now

locally available.

These test kits have

the ability to confirm

early infection – as early as on the first day of

symptoms - by detecting the dengue virus antigen

NS1 in the patient’s blood. According to the test

kit’s manufacturers, results are

immediately available in one day. This fast method

can possibly prevent epidemics in the country.

IF I’VE HAD DENGUE ONCE, DOES THAT MEAN I’M IMMUNE?

Unfortunately not. There are four types of dengue virus, and while infection and recovery from one serotype provides immunity against that strain of the virus, it doesn’t offer protection from the other three. And if you are infected by dengue once, you’re at greater risk of developing severe dengue if you’re infected again.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DENGUE

1. Search and destroy possible breeding places of

dengue-causing mosquitoes like

flower pots, vases, discarded

plastic bags, bottles, old tires,

cans, earthen jars, coconut

husks, roof gutters, water

drums, and other containers

that might hold clean stagnant water. Preventing

dengue can be easier achieved by doing your part in

keeping the environment clean. Change water in vases

frequently. Make sure all water containers are kept

covered.

2. Self-protection measures include wearing long

sleeves or long pants. It is also

best to avoid dark-colored

clothes like dark shades of blue

and black, as dark clothing has

been observed to attract

mosquitoes. Apply mosquito

repellant on the skin to deter mosquito bites.

Mosquito repellant lotions and liquid sprays are

available on the market; however, parents are

cautioned against using strong repellants on small

children because of potentially harsh chemicals.

There are organic mosquito

repellant alternatives such

as all-natural citronella bug

spray. You can also

use mosquito coils, electric

vapor mats and mosquito spray during the daytime.

Screens and mosquito nets are also good deterrents

against mosquitoes.

3. Seek early consultation because

dengue is crucial. See a doctor

immediately if you show early signs

and symptoms of dengue.

4. Say no to indiscriminate fogging. In the past,

fogging was considered as a temporary solution

against dengue-carrying mosquitoes. At present,

fogging is only advisable and recommended

when outbreaks and epidemics are positively

determined in a particular area. Fogging can only kill

the adult infected mosquito; it cannot get rid of the

larvae, locally known as kiti-kiti. Indiscriminate fogging

will only drive away other mosquitoes to other places

to find new breeding grounds.

4 o’clock habit: STOP, LOOK and LISTEN

At 4:00 pm sharp always,

STOP - means to stop what you are doing either work

or during class and concentrate on the task of

performing mosquito control methods

LOOK - means to look into searching and destroying

possible breeding sites for mosquitoes

LISTEN - means to listen to instructions from work

supervisors, barangay officials or any local authorities

so that implementation of the habit is synchronous.

Also listen to updates on the current dengue status in

your respective communities.

REFERENCES:

http://www.breakdengue.org/dengue-fever/ http://www.unilab.com.ph/consumers/articles-and-advisories/physical/how-to-prevent-dengue/ http://www.nurseupdates.com/fun-ways-to-practice-dohs-4-oclock-habit-against-dengue/