Adventure Doc
keeping you healthy for life's adventures
Erik McLaughlin MD, MPH
Affiliates
DENGUE
Basics:
Dengue is also known as “breakbone fever” after the muscular aches and myalgia it causes. An Arbovirus, transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito, Dengue comes in 4 serotypes numbered 1-4. Found worldwide, this single stranded RNA virus is most closely associated with urban transmission. Infection may progress to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and the risk of DHF increased with each subsequent infection. Typical symptoms include fever, severe muscle aches and fine petechial rash.
DENGUE
Location:
Worldwide, more common in urban settings
Transmission/ Incubation:
transmitted by A. Aegypti in cities and A. Albopictus in jungles. Incubation is generally 5-10 days.
Prevention:
Mosquitoe and vector control. See the Malaria section for information on this
Diagnosis:
Serology/PCR
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Treatment:
Supportive Care including antipyretics, pain control and IV fluids.
Community effort to eradicate Dengue in Paraguay
World map of Dengue distribution in red, Aedes distribution in blue
Aedes Aegypti Mosquito
A. Aegypti eradication field water habitat sampling
Dengue Warning-Signs
Dengue fever is another virus spread by mosquito bites and usually found in the tropics. The nickname for Dengue fever is “break bone fever” due to the muscular and joint pains that come with the disease. Dengue fever usually features a skin rash, too. The disease usually lasts about one week. The concern with dengue fever is that the virus may cause “dengue hemmorhagic fever (DHF)”. This is a version of the virus that cause uncontrolled bleeding, usually from the GI tract (stomach and intestines), the nose or gums and easy bruising. Vomiting blood (hematemesis) and bloody (hematochezia) or dark black stools (melena) are some of the signs of GI bleeding.
People get dengue fever from the bite of the Aedes mosquito species. This species is unique, because it bites during the night and the day. Please see the section on malaria for tips on how to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Dengue Fever has 4 main types: Dengue 1, Dengue 2, Dengue 3, and Dengue 4. The viruses are found in most tropical areas of the world. This includes Africa, Asia, South and Central America, the Caribbean, parts of Australia and the South Pacific. The concern with Dengue is not really the first time you get infected. Sure, you’ll be sick. The second time you get Dengue it is much worse and this is where the mortality rates (chances of dying) get higher. The third infection is even worse. If you are infected with one of the four types of Dengue, you are immune to that type, usually for life. However, you can still get infected by one of the other three. If DHF becomes sever, it can progress to Dengue Shock Syndrome and will require copious IV fluids with Saline or Ringers and may necessitate plasma or platelet transfusions.
There is no vaccine or medicine to take to prevent getting Dengue Fever. The best method is to avoid getting bitten. Long sleeves, long pants, bug spray with 30% DEET and some common sense. Visit the section on malaria to learn more on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
