Madrassa tuz Zahra

DENGUE FEVER

Dengue is a common viral infection spread by mosquitoes.

Symptoms of dengue include:

• A high temperature (fever) that can reach as high as 41ºC (105.8ºF)
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Widespread red rash
• Bone, muscle and joint pain
• Tummy pain and loss of appetite

What causes dengue?

Dengue is spread by a type of infected mosquito called the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

An infected human is bitten by a mosquito, the infected mosquito then bites another human, and the cycle continues. Dengue fever usually develops suddenly after 5-8 days following a mosquito bite.

The condition is widespread in urban areas of Pakistan with a high mosquito population, typically areas that have a combination of:

• Fresh water reservoir
• A warm and humid climate
• Overcrowding and major urban centres

Dengue cannot be spread from person-to-person.

Diagnosing dengue

In "Dengue Fever Season", if you go to a doctor familiar with dengue, they will probably be able to diagnose the condition just by looking at you and asking about your symptoms.

You will also be given a blood test to see if the dengue virus is present in your bloodstream.

Treating dengue

Dengue usually clears up by itself within around 1-2 weeks.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and get plenty of rest.

There are no specific medications to treat the disease, but symptoms can be managed by taking paracetamol, drinking plenty of fluids and resting. Do not take Asprin, Brufen or similar drugs as they may make things worse.

Complications

A very small number of people with dengue go on to develop a more serious form of the disease known as 'severe dengue'. Severe dengue is a potentially fatal complication of dengue that can lead to shock (a sudden drop in blood pressure), bleeding and organ damage.

People who get this complication will need to be admitted to hospital as a precaution.

Who is affected

Anyone can get dengue.

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine for dengue fever so the best way to prevent catching the infection is to take common sense precautions.

The following can reduce your risk of being bitten:

• Use insect repellent – products containing 50% DEET are most effective, but a lower strength (15 to 30% DEET) should be used on children, and alternatives to DEET should be used on children younger than 2 months.
• Wear loose but protective clothing – mosquitoes can bite through tight-fitting clothes. Trousers, long-sleeved shirts, and socks and shoes (not sandals) are best.
• Sleep under a mosquito net – ideally one that has been treated with insecticide.
• Be aware of your environment – mosquitoes that spread dengue breed in still water in urban areas.