The Spanish word Dengue is derived from the African Swahili word Dinga. Dengue actually means spinal pain. It is called broken bones or dandy fever. Dengue is a viral infectious disease. 100 million people worldwide are infected with dengue every year. Outbreaks of the disease occur in Southeast Asia, South China, Pacific Islands, Taiwan, Africa, Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central and South America. Dr. Siddiq Publications
Causes dengue fever
Dengue fever in humans is caused by a type of RNA virus called Flavi virus. It has four variants. DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. Fever occurs after 2-7 days.
Dengue fever infection
Dengue virus is transmitted by mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypt, Aedes albopictus, Aedes polynesiensis, Aedes scutellaris etc. Dengue mosquitoes bite humans during the day. This mosquito bites in the morning and evening. Dengue transmission occurs through blood and organ donation. Germs are transmitted from the pregnant mother to the child. The germs enter the human body through the saliva of mosquitoes while consuming human blood. The number increases in the human body within 8-10 days.
Diagnosis of dengue
1. Serology: Blood tests may show IgM antibodies. Antibody levels in acutely infected blood may increase up to fourfold. Dengue is diagnosed by detecting the presence of specific antibodies in the blood.
2. Platelet Test: The platelet count in the blood falls below 150,000/mm3. A basic idea about dengue is taken by blood cell count or platelet count.
3. Cell Culture: Blood is collected from an infected body. The virus can be detected by blood cell culture.
Symptoms of dengue fever
1. Symptoms of common dengue fever
(i) First comes chills and sudden high fever.
(ii) Severe pain in head, throat and forehead.
(iii) Pain behind the eyes and blood clots.
(iv) Severe pain in spine, waist, muscles and joints. Because there is severe pain in the joints, it is called fracture stress. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(v) Nausea occurs.
(vi) Small red bumps or rash appear on the skin.
(vii) Bleeding from gums and nose.
(viii) Liver is enlarged and circulatory system is affected.
(ix) Fever level is 103-105 degrees Fahrenheit.
(x) Aversion to food. Loss of appetite.
(xi) Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. This condition is called thrombocytopenia. Blood cannot clot.
(xii) Decreases heart rate and blood pressure.
(xiii) Glands of neck and groin become swollen.
(xiv) The palms of the hands and feet become swollen and bright red.
2. Symptoms of hemorrhagic dengue fever
If the patient gets dengue fever for the second time, it is called hemorrhagic dengue. If dengue is hemorrhagic, the patient becomes very ill. Children are more affected. It can cause death of the patient. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(i) Blood clots in the corner of the eye.
(ii) May cause vomiting of blood.
(iii) Bleeding through the nose, mouth, gums and skin.
(iv) Blood may pass with stool.
(v) Blood platelets are reduced and blood cannot clot.
(vi) Dehydration occurs due to excess weight.
(vii) Haemoconcentration may occur.
(viii) Decreases body fluid volume and pressure in blood vessels.
(ix) Increased amount of bleeding or internal breeding. This condition is called dengue shock syndrome.
(x) The internal balance of the body is disturbed and the patient may die.
3. Dengue shock syndrome
If the concentration of blood increases and hemoconcentration occurs, it is called dengue shock syndrome.
(i) Fluid content in the blood decreases. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(ii) Blood concentration increases.
(iii) Blood circulation is disturbed.
(iv) The patient may die.
Dengue Fever Remedy/Treatment
1. Drink plenty of boiled cold water.
2. The patient should eat soup, milk, fruit juice and liquid food.
3. Pour water on the head. Dr. Siddiq Publications
4. Sweat should be removed from the body.
5. The body should be sponged with a wet cloth.
6. Breastfeeding the baby.
7. Administration of drugs such as paracetamol.
8. Platelet transfusion or blood donation may be required to maintain blood balance.
Prevention of dengue fever
1. Dengue mosquito must be killed.
2. Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day. So be careful during the day.
3. Must sleep with mosquito nets during the day. Dr. Siddiq Publications
4. Mosquito coils or electric vapor mats should be used.
5. Shrubs and garbage around the house should be cleared.
6. Do not allow water to accumulate in the vicinity. Filling closed reservoirs.
7. Do not travel, socialize, eat, drink, come in close and personal company with the affected patient.
8. Avoid drinking wine and alcohol.
9. Spraying insecticides.
10. Full shirt, full pants and socks should be worn.
11. Abandoned cans, tin cans, clay pots, bottles, coconut garlands etc. lying around the house should be destroyed.
12. Do not allow water to accumulate in buckets, drums, plastic and cement tanks of the bathroom for more than five days.
13. Care must be taken to ensure that water does not accumulate in tires of unused vehicles.
14. Do not allow a small amount of water to accumulate under the refrigerator, under the AC, in the flower tub and in the clay pot. Dr. Siddiq Publications
15. Aedes mosquitoes live an average of 21 days. Therefore, disease can be prevented by spraying insecticides to kill larvae and full-grown mosquitoes at the same time.
16. Recently in Florida, USA, genetic engineering technology has been discovered to kill Aedes mosquitoes without pesticides.
Environmental importance in the spread of dengue fever
1. The carrier of dengue fever is the dengue mosquito. If the prevalence of dengue mosquitoes increases in the environment, dengue disease will spread rapidly. Dr. Siddiq Publications
2. Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day. Dengue will spread easily if mosquito bites are not avoided during the day. Sleeping without mosquito nets during the day will increase the spread of the disease.
3. Dengue mosquitoes lay their eggs in bushes and garbage around houses. Therefore dengue disease increases if there are bushes and garbage around the house.
4. Dengue mosquitoes lay eggs there when water accumulates around. Dengue increases if there is stagnant water around the house. Dr. Siddiq Publications
5. There is a possibility of getting dengue by moving, socializing, eating, close and personal association with an infected patient.
6. The prevalence of dengue is high in environments where people drink liquor and alcohol.
7. If a dengue patient is not kept inside a mosquito net, the disease is more likely to spread.