DENGUE FEVER

Dengue Fever: Symptoms, Transmission, Immunization, Prevention, and Treatment

Symptoms: Dengue fever, caused by a virus, is often mistaken for other infections like malaria or typhoid fever. Clinically, it mirrors flu-like symptoms, including sudden onset of fever, headaches, joint and muscle pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. A skin rash may emerge around 3 to 4 days after fever onset. While the disease is typically mild, severe cases, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, can occur, resulting in death in 5 percent of cases.

Transmission: Dengue fever is prevalent in tropical urban areas, sharing a distribution pattern with malaria. The Aedes mosquito, also a carrier of yellow fever, transmits the virus, remaining active throughout the day and residing near or inside dwellings.

Immunization: No vaccine exists for dengue fever, and there are no travel-related requirements. As of 1997, it was the most widespread mosquito-borne viral illness globally.

Prevention: Preventing mosquito bites is crucial, involving measures such as using insect repellent, mosquito netting, and wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Treatment: Managing dengue fever symptoms involves bed rest, hydration, and acetaminophen as needed. Avoid administering Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, as they may worsen bleeding tendencies associated with some dengue infections.

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