What is the DENGUE FEVER ?

Answer 1

Dengue fever (IPA: ['deŋgeɪ]) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus).

Find out more about it here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever

Answer 2

Dengue is an illness caused by Flaviviruses 4 serotypes. There are 2 basic types -a dengue fever which behaves like most other viral fevers with muscle pains etc and rarely bleeding tendency, a second and much more dangerous type occurs when a person who has been infected previously with one type of the virus gets reinfected much later with another type. The antibodies from the first infection worsen the disease (antibody potentiation) by allowing the virus to be taken up in certain cells nd results in a vasculopathy ( leaky blood vessels) and a maturation arrest of platelet production causing bleeding problems . Depending on te manifestations, the second type is classified as Dengue Hemorrhagi fever or Dengue Shck syndrome. The original WHO classification into 4 grades of severity is now beiing reassessed because of changes in the disease pattern over time

Answer 3

Dengue Fever


Overview

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called "break-bone" fever because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking, hence the name. Health experts have known about dengue fever for more than 200 years.

Dengue fever is found mostly during and shortly after the rainy season in tropical and subtropical areas of

Africa
Southeast Asia and China
India
Middle East
Caribbean and Central and South America
Australia and the South and Central Pacific
An epidemic in Hawaii in 2001 is a reminder that many states in the United States are susceptible to dengue epidemics because they harbor the particular types of mosquitoes that transmit it.

Worldwide, more than 100 million cases of dengue infection occur each year. This includes 100 to 200 cases reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mostly in people who have recently traveled abroad. Many more cases likely go unreported because some health care providers do not recognize the disease.

During the last part of the 20th century, many tropical regions of the world saw an increase in dengue cases. Epidemics also occurred more frequently and with more severity. In addition to typical dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome also have increased in many parts of the world

Answer 4

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitos. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, prostration, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue.

Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity. An attack of dengue produces immunity for a year or more. Once this outbreak ebbs, more people will be resistant to the viral disease and the cycle will begin again.

Dengue goes by other names including breakbone or dandy fever. Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain. Hence, the name "breakbone fever." Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have "dandy fever" because of their postures and gait.

What areas are at high risk for contracting Dengue fever?

Dengue is endemic throughout the tropics and subtropics. Outbreaks have, for example, occurred in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Cuba. Cases have also been imported via tourists returning from areas with endemic dengue including Tahiti, the South Pacific, SE Asia, the West Indies, India and the Middle East.

Dengue fever is thriving elsewhere in SE Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have all reported an increase in cases. In Thailand, dengue fever killed 31 people in the first three months of 1998.

Answer 5

Dengue fever (IPA: ['deŋgeɪ]) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus).

Diagnosis
The diagnosis of dengue is usually made clinically. The classic picture is high fever with no localising source of infection, a petechial rash with thrombocytopenia and relative leukopenia.

There exists a WHO definition of dengue haemorrhagic fever that has been in use since 1975; all four criteria must be fulfilled:

Fever
Haemorrhagic tendency (positive tourniquet test, spontaneous bruising, bleeding from mucosa, gingiva, injection sites, etc.; vomiting blood, or bloody diarrhea)
Thrombocytopaenia (<100 platelets per mm³ or estimated as less than 3 platelets per high power field)
Evidence of plasma leakage (hematocrit more than 20% higher than expected, or drop in haematocrit of 20% or more from baseline following IV fluid, pleural effusion, ascites, hypoproteinaemia)
Dengue shock syndrome is defined as dengue haemorrhagic fever plus:

Weak rapid pulse,
Narrow pulse pressure (less than 20 mm Hg)
or,

Hypotension for age;
Cold, clammy skin and restlessness.
Serology and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) studies are available to confirm the diagnosis of dengue if clinically indicated

Treatment
The mainstay of treatment is supportive therapy. The patient is encouraged to keep up oral intake, especially of oral fluids. If the patient is unable to maintain oral intake, supplementation with intravenous fluids may be necessary to prevent dehydration and significant hemoconcentration. A platelet transfusion is rarely indicated if the platelet level drops significantly or if there is significant bleeding. But the transfusion is recommendable on platelet count falling below 20,000 without hemorrhage / bleeding or approx 50,000 with hemorrhage/bleeding. Internal bleeding indicated by dark color of stools, other bleedings indicated at surface as red rashes all over or most of the body parts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever

Answer 6

IT IS CALLED BREAK-BONE FEVER. THE PAIN IS SO INTENSE IT GOES TO THE BONES.-CAUSED BY AEDES MOSQUITO AS THEY SAID. FEVER-MALAISE AND SEVERE PAIN IN BONES-IN SOME CASES ISOLATED SWELLING IN THE BODY-LOSS OF TASTE ETC., THE BEST IS IN HOMEO: EUPATARIUM PERF 200/5ML/NO. 40 GLOB. DOSAGE 4 PILLS 7 AM AND 7PM. IT CAN PREVENT DENGUE-THIS SHD BE TAKEN FOR 7 DAYS. TO REDUCE FEVER U CAN USE PARACETAMAL UNDER ALLOPATHISTY.

Answer 7

It is caused by a mosquito bite which is infected with the disease. It is accompanied by fever , body malaise and headaches.