Dengue Fever

                                                           (Backbone Fever)

Introduction

A mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas. The dengue is repeated every third year. Spreads by insects Requires a medical diagnosis. Lab tests or imaging often requires. Short-term: resolves within days to weeks. Critical: needs emergency care.

Causes

Dengue is a viral fever.This viral disease spread by the day time biting Aides mosquito. The Aides mosquito is an indoor breeder that thrives on clean, stagnant water in storage containers, coolers and flower vases.

Aides Mosquito

Symptoms

In infants and toddlers, the disease present like  any other viral illness with fever lasting up to 5 days. running of nose, mild cough and  congestion of throat. 

Older children may have more annoying symptoms.The incubation period of disease is 1 to 7 days. There is a sudden onset of high fever  with severe headache and pain in the muscle or joint. The child may get a rash during the first day or two of fever. The child than develops a marked loss of appetite. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting and enlargement of glands in different parts of body. The fever may last for about a week, only to reappear again after a day or two.Severe weakness during illness and also after recovery quite characteristic.

Most children recover without much problem.A few children may develop bleeding tendency that can be fatal if left untreated.

Treatment

No antibiotic is helpful in this disease. Aspirin should never be given, as it can increase the bleeding tendency. The child only needs rest, frequent small meals, paracetamol and  sponging to relieve pain and bring down the high fever. However hospitalization is a must if  the disease reaches the dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF) stage with bleeding manifestation, enlargement of the liver and low counts of platelets in blood.

Prevention

All coolers not in use should be kept dry. Water in flower vases should be checked frequently. Water sorage container should be  covered with tight fitting lids. To avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.