Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a sickness that you can catch if a mosquito carrying one of four types of dengue virus bites you. The virus is usually found in warm areas like tropical regions in Central and South America, Africa, parts of Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
What is Dengue fever?
Dengue doesn't spread directly from one person to another, except when a pregnant person passes it to their baby.
Symptoms are usually not severe during your first infection, but if you get infected again with a different type of dengue virus, the chances of having serious complications increase.
Who is at Risk of Dengue Fever ?
Individuals residing in or travelling to regions with high mosquito activity, particularly Aedes mosquitoes.
People living in urban areas with overcrowding and inadequate sanitation.
Infants, children, and adolescents.
Older adults with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.
Individuals with a history of previous dengue infections, especially if infected with a different dengue virus serotype.
Those who do not take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites.
Individuals in areas with a high prevalence of dengue cases.
Travellers visiting dengue-endemic regions.
People living or working in locations with stagnant water sources and poor vector control measures.
Individuals with compromised immune systems due to certain medical conditions or treatments.
Pregnant women, as they can pass the infection to their unborn child.
Is it possible to develop immunity to dengue fever?
Yes, once you've been infected with a certain version of the dengue virus, you can develop immunity to it.
But things can get a bit tricky because there are at least four different versions (strains) of the virus called DENV.
Your immune system has special tools to recognize infections and get better at fighting them.
When your body fights a virus, it searches through its toolbox to find the right tool (called an antibody) that can destroy that specific threat.
Antibodies are like keys that fit into locks, but each antibody is made for a specific invader in your body. They grab onto their target and your immune system destroys it.
Once your body knows how to fight a specific virus, it's unlikely that you'll get sick from it again.
What are the signs of dengue fever?
Most people with dengue don't show any signs. But if you do have symptoms, a high fever of 104°F/40°C is common. You may also experience-
High fever (around 104°F/40°C)
Rash on the skin
Intense pain behind the eyes
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle, bone, and joint pain
Dengue fever symptoms usually show up four to 10 days after a mosquito bite and can last for about three to seven days.
Only about 1 in 20 people who are sick with dengue will develop a severe form of the illness after their initial symptoms start to fade.
What are the causes of dengue fever?
Dengue fever is caused by one of four types of dengue viruses. When a mosquito that carries the dengue virus bites you, the virus can enter your body and start making more copies of itself.
This virus and how your immune system reacts to it can make you feel sick.
The virus can harm the parts of your blood that help it clot and keep your blood vessels strong.
Along with certain chemicals that your immune system produces, this can make your blood leak out of your vessels and cause internal bleeding. That's why severe dengue can be life-threatening.
Treating Dengue Fever
There is no specific cure for Dengue fever because it is caused by a virus. However, timely actions can help manage the illness depending on its severity. Here are some basic treatments for Dengue fever-
Medication- Carica papaya and goat milk is recommended as natural treatment in the case of dengue. G-don is the kind of medicine that is given to relieve the symptoms of dengue.
Stay hydrated- It's important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated because vomiting and high fever can cause the body to lose fluids. Drinking fluids regularly helps prevent dehydration.
Hygiene- Good hygiene is crucial, especially when you're not feeling well. If a regular bath is not possible, the patient can have a sponge bath.
Adding a few drops of disinfectant liquid like Dettol to the bathwater is helpful. It's also important to sanitise your hands with a hand sanitizer like Dettol before and after visiting the patient in the hospital. Washing the patient's clothes with water treated with Dettol helps eliminate germs.
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