Dengue Fever
February 9, 2010
Dengue fever is an acute flu-like illness that develops when a person in bitten by a mosquito infected with the dengue virus. The Aedes mosquitoes, which carry the dengue viruses, are found in the tropical countries of Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific and the Americas. Dengue fever seldom affects people living in the mountainous regions, because mosquitoes usually could not survive at high altitudes, especially above 4000 feet.Symptoms of dengue fever
Once the dengue virus is released in the blood through mosquito bite, it would take from three to fifteen days for the symptoms of the disease to appear. At the earliest stage of dengue fever, you might experience pain in the legs and joints. This is followed by fever, chill, headache, low back pain and pain behind the eyes. Your body temperature might rise to 104 degree Fahrenheit.
The blood pressure and heartbeat might fall. Three or four days after the fever starts, pale pink rash would appear on the face. The symptoms of the illness might last for up to ten days. The fever usually subsides rapidly after two to four days. This is followed by a second stage of temperature rise, accompanied by rash that covers the whole body except the face. Occasionally this viral infection causes dengue hemorrhagic fever, which if not treated properly could become fatal. In dengue hemorrhagic fever, nose, gum and mouth start bleeding. If left untreated, the blood vessels might collapse leading to death.
Dengue prevention
Specific medications are not available for treating dengue fever. A person suffering from the disease should take adequate rest and drink plenty of clear fluids. To prevent bleeding, you should not take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treating the symptoms of dengue fever. If the Aedes mosquitoes bite a person suffering from dengue fever, they will carry the virus to other healthy individuals. To prevent spread of dengue fever, a person suffering from the illness should be kept away from mosquitoes at least for the first six days after the symptoms of the disease appear.
Try to cover your body by wearing long sleeved shirts, long pants and socks, especially during the day when the Aedes mosquitoes are most active. Use mosquito repellents to keep mosquitoes away from home. The water in your flower vases and birdbaths could be the breeding ground of mosquitoes. Regularly change the water of vases and birdbath. Do not allow water to accumulate anywhere inside or around your house.
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