dengue_fever.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
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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.
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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/