What is Dengue, and what are its symptoms?
Dengue, additionally referred to as ‘tropical flu’, is an infectious sickness caused by the virus of the same name. The virus is transmitted with the aid of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Dengue is rising hastily and is currently considered a ‘re-emerging’ sickness. Dengue is a viral ailment resulting from four carefully related viruses: dengue virus 1, 2, three, and four. Not everyone infected with Dengue will become unwell: only approximately one in 4 will experience signs ranging from minimum pain to extreme issues. A blood test is used to verify the diagnosis. When symptoms arise, they tend to feel like the flu. The onset of feeling sick typically starts offevolved within 3 days of being bitten via an inflamed mosquito but can soak up to six to 9 days, says Dr. Edward Ryan, director of worldwide infectious sicknesses at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Causes of Dengue Fever.Dengue fever is caused by one in all 4 dengue viruses (DENV). Transmission of these viruses to people occurs through the bites of an infected mosquito. The most common types of mosquitoes liable for spreading dengue fever are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.These mosquitoes are extensively discovered in tropical and subtropical regions, along with Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa. When an inflamed mosquito bites someone, the virus first enters the bloodstream, and the liver then propagates to other organs. It replicates there and impairs the liver’s functioning, accumulating pollution in the blood, resulting in fever, muscle pain, headache, and rash. If now not controlled, its severity can also motivate liver failure.
Table of Contents
How does the virus unfold?
It is transmitted to human beings through the bites of lady mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, mainly Aedes aegypti, but on occasion, the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). When a mosquito feeds on the blood of an inflamed character, the virus replicates in its gut earlier than getting into the salivary glands. Under certain conditions, the mosquito will become infectious within a few days and might then infect other humans.
More rarely, the virus may be transmitted from a pregnant female to her baby or through transfusion or transplantation.
How is the sickness identified?
In all instances, a fast, accurate prognosis is necessary to verify the infection to aid in the care of the affected person and ensure that public fitness surveillance structures can sound the alarm and accentuate efforts to combat the unfolding of the virus.
Signs and symptoms of dengue fever
Centre for Sickness Manage and Prevention (CDC) has posted 7 warning symptoms of dengue fever in line with the World Health Organization suggestions in 2009, as cited below:
Pain inside the stomach or tenderness
Continuous vomiting
Ascites or pleural effusion
Bleeding of the mucosa
Fatigue or tiredness
Enlargement of liver greater than 2 cm
Doctors can diagnose dengue contamination with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies. Let your physician understand if you come to be sick after touring or dwelling near people already having dengue infection. This will allow your health practitioner to assess the opportunity that dengue contamination has caused your symptoms.
Diagnosis
Doctors may also recommend an aggregate of blood tests and imaging assessments to diagnose dengue fever infection because the frame’s immune response to the virus is complex and dynamic. Dengue contamination is problematic to diagnose without laboratory and radiology tests because, to begin with, signs may be similar to different illnesses, including malaria. Tests may additionally encompass:
Complete blood count number (CBC or CBP) – to test the platelet matter typical of the later levels of the infection and to hit upon the decrease in hematocrit, haemoglobin, and purple blood cell (RBC) be counted (proof of anaemia) that could occur with blood loss associated with intense dengue fever.
Dengue Serology Test (Dengue IgG & IgM) – to detect antibodies produced with the aid of the immune system whilst a person has been exposed to the virus; these exams are most effective when performed at least 4 days after exposure in both number one and secondary infections.
Dengue Virus Antigen Detection (NS1) – to verify Dengue viral infection. This take-look is beneficial for diagnosing early dengue infection and may be carried out within 1-2 days following dengue infection.
In case of intense signs, Doctors may additionally advise other blood checks and radiology imaging to recognize the spread of dengue contamination to other organs; those might also encompass:
Liver function assessments (LFT) – to stumble on mild elevations in serum bilirubin, elevated transaminases and derangements in serum albumin because of Aedes mosquito’s virus hepatotoxic effects that can also cause acute liver failure, with deadly consequences.
Renal Function Test (RFT) – to test the elevation of the serum creatinine stage that can cause a variety of renal sicknesses such as Acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis, proteinuria, glomerulopathy, nephrotic syndrome or hemolysis.
ECG – to test the heart’s electrical disturbances. In many patients, ECG abnormalities were found, particularly sinus bradyarrhythmias, ventricular asystole, sinus tachyarrhythmias, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ST- and T-wave modifications because of electrolyte abnormalities of potassium, calcium, magnesium resulting from dengue infection.
Ultrasound stomach (USG) – to check for conditions like serositis, fluid in the abdomen, oedema of the gallbladder, pericholecystic fluid, and ascites (buildup of fluid in areas inside your abdomen), mainly because of dengue fever contamination.
Chest X-ray – to test the pleural effusion (the construct-up of extra fluid among the layers of the pleura (the tissues that line the lungs and the chest)), pericardial effusion (the buildup of the fluid in the saclike double-layered structure around the coronary heart known as pericardium) resulting from dengue fever contamination.
D-dimer: To test the cost of D-dimer inside the blood, a protein fragment is made whilst a blood clot dissolves in your body. Dengue fever contamination can increase the D-dimer degrees inside the blood, resulting in aches in the frame, sharp chest pain, high fever, trouble breathing, modifications in pores, and skin colouration of your arm or leg.
2D echocardiography (2D Echo) – to check coronary heart muscle mass harm. Severe dengue fever influences the coronary heart structurally and functionally. Cardiac complications secondary to dengue virus infection range from self-proscribing arrhythmias to excessive myocardial infarction, leading to hypotension, pulmonary oedema, and cardiogenic surprise.
A fibrinogen test – to test fibrinogen levels. Fibrinogen is a blood protein made in the liver and enables blood clotting. Low Fibrinogen may additionally make it difficult for blood to clot. In the case of complex dengue hemorrhagic fever, patients tend to have excessive bleeding; a medical doctor may work for this test to check your fibrinogen stages.
Fibrin degradation products blood take a look at – to check the FDP levels, Fibrin degradation products (FDPs) are the materials left at the back of whilst clots dissolve within the blood. Increased FDPs can signal number one or secondary fibrinolysis (clot-dissolving interest) due to dengue hemorrhagic fever.
What treatments are to be had?
There isn’t any specific treatment for Dengue. Symptoms associated with the sickness are treated with analgesics. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pills must be prevented, as they’ll growth the chance of bleeding.
How can infection be averted?
Prevention relies primarily on vector management, i., E. Combating the mosquitoes that spread the virus, and private safety measures:
getting rid of stagnant water using repellents
wearing full-body clothing and using mosquito nets
Insecticides can also be used. However, their enormous use can set off resistance in mosquito populations, making them less effective.There is also a preventive vaccine, Dengvaxia®, administered in 3 doses six months apart, which is handiest available to certain people: the ones aged 9 to forty-five years, previously infected with the virus and dwelling in endemic regions.Increased Hematocrit values within the blood in conjunction with a rapid drop in platelet countDiagnosis of Dengue Fever
How is Dengue handled?
Dengue is caused by a virus, and no specific medicinal drugs will be used to fight it. Milder dengue signs and symptoms usually last seven days, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The symptoms are controlled supportively: plenty of fluids, over-the-counter pain medications, and relaxation.
Severe Dengue typically requires remedy in a sanatorium with intravenous (IV) fluids. Patients are monitored till their fever breaks and symptoms start to wane. This usually occurs in about 3 to 5 days. Recovery at home can last many more days before a person’s strength returns.
How does Dengue spread?
The viruses that cause Dengue no longer directly unfold from character to man or woman. Aedes species mosquitoes can grow to be infected with the dengue virus after they chew a person who has the virus. Infected mosquitoes then unfold the virus to different humans.
Is there a dengue vaccine?
Currently, there is no widespread dengue vaccine for US vacationers. One FDA-authorized vaccine, Dengvaxia, protects kids aged nine to sixteen from all 4 kinds of Dengue. It is used handiest for children who’ve had preceding contamination and live in regions where Dengue is common. However, the vaccine can be discontinued in September 2025, with the final doses expiring in September 2026.
