Outline On Dengue Fever

Unlike Malaria which is a disease

caused by the infestation of
parasites into the human
bloodstream Dengue fever is a viral
disease.

There are four distinct, but closely

related, viruses that cause dengue.
Recovery from infection by one
provides lifelong immunity against
that serotype but confers only partial
and transient protection against
subsequent infection by the other
three. Therefore it is possible to get
dengue fever multiple times.

Dengue fever is also known as Breakbone fever. It is a disease caused by a family of

viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Dengue fever is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has
previously bitten an infected person. The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread
directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person
pathway.

Like all other mosquitoes the Aedes aegypti mosquito can breed in small quantities of water;
such as flower pots, tin cans, plastic bags etc. The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds all year
round.

Symptoms

Dengue fever is an acute illness of sudden onset; symptoms include headache, fever,
exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and a rash. The presence (the
"dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of
dengue.

Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that
affects infants, young children and adults.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a more severe form of the viral illness. Manifestations
include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of haemorrhage in the body. Petechiae (small
red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in the nose or gums, black stools, or easy
bruising are all possible signs of haemorrhage. This form of dengue fever can be life-
threatening or even fatal.

Affected areas

Dengue is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics. Outbreaks have occurred in the
Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Central America. Cases
have also been imported via tourists returning from areas with widespread dengue, including
Tahiti, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies, India, and the Middle East.

Dengue fever is common and may be increasing in Southeast Asia. Thailand, Vietnam,
Singapore and Malaysia have all reported an increase in cases. According to the World
Health Organization, there were 188,684 cases of dengue reported in 2006, with Indonesia
having 57% of the reported cases.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), on a
global scale there are
approximately 80-100 million
cases of Dengue fever
reported each year which
results in 150,000 deaths.
Some 2500 million people,
(two fifths of the world's
population) are at risk from
Dengue fever.

Vaccine

Vaccine development for dengue and DHF is difficult because any of four different viruses
may cause disease, and because protection against only one or two dengue
viruses could actually increase the risk of more serious disease. Nonetheless, progress is
being made in the development of vaccines that may protect against all four dengue viruses.
Such products may become available for public health use within several years.

More information about Dengue Fever can be found at;

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/
http://www.medicinenet.com/dengue_fever/article.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DVBID/DENGUE/