Dengue fever is instigated by the flavivirus which can be transmitted to others chiefly via the bite of an infested mosquito or tick. When it comes to dengue fever, the carrier is usually the female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito is active during the day, usually two hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset. There are four serotypes of the dengue virus fever and infection with one type capable of causing a non-lethal infection that can provide the individual with immunity to that particular serotype but not with the others.
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An individual can acquire dengue fever up to four times with one for each serotype. It is important to note that there are conditions linked with varying severity – dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) as well as dengue shock syndrome.
Symptoms of dengue fever
Dengue fever is characterized by the abrupt start of fever up to a week. The other symptoms include a severe headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Older children can suffer from severe back pain. The rash can manifest about the same time when the fever subsides. The rash is not visible among dark-skinned individuals. There is also minimal bleeding including gum bleeding.
The limited occurrences of dengue fever are frequent but the mortalities are few as long as medical care is provided. The medical treatment is to provide relief to the symptoms until the worse of the infection has passed. You can learn how to manage the symptoms by enrolling in a first aid class today.
Symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is considered as a severe form of dengue fever. Take note that this complication of dengue fever is endemic in southern Asia, Latin America and Africa. The symptoms typically include elevated fever reaching to 105.8 degrees F and the predisposition for spontaneous irregular bleeding as well as blood clotting. Fever in this elevated range can result to convulsions. The gastrointestinal hemorrhage and liver damage are also indications that dengue fever has become DHF. The treatment usually includes the replacement of fluids lost and transfusion in case of severe bleeding. If left untreated, dengue hemorrhagic fever is often fatal among children.
Symptoms of dengue shock syndrome
The dengue shock syndrome can occur when dengue fever had advanced to dengue hemorrhagic fever and treatment measures such as fluid restoration and bleeding management were not established.
Since it starts as dengue fever, dengue shock syndrome is preceded by very high fever that lasts up to a week, hemorrhagic bleeding and a drop in the circulating platelet count as well as evidence of plasma leakage. This condition can cause rapid, weak pulse, narrow blood pressure, restlessness and cold, clammy skin along with signs of shock. Once shock sets in, the fatality rate is already high. As long as fluid replacement is provided and bleeding control is provided early, the mortality is reduced.