What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day, but are usually more active at dusk and dawn. The incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 to 14 days.
What is dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if unrecognized or not treated.
How is dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever spread?
Dengue is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected when they take a blood meal from a dengue-infectedperson and then after about a week can transmit the virus while biting a healthy person.
Can dengue be spread from person to person?
Dengue fever cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is only spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
What are the common symptoms of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue fever is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, (which can last up to 7 days) and is accompanied by intense headache, body aches, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and the development of skin rashes. A blood test will often show low platelets.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever presents similarly to dengue fever but is associated with more severe bleeding problems (e.g. gum bleeding, nose bleeding and bleeding into the skin and internal organs) along with evidence of plasma leakage
Is there any treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever?
There is no specific treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, supportive care with intravenous fluids and frequent blood test monitoring reduces complications of the disease. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be required.
Can dengue fever or dengue haemorrhagic fever lead to death?
Yes. Death can occur in a small minority of persons especially if the infection is not recognized early or early treatment is not sought
How can dengue fever be prevented?
Dengue fever can be prevented through measures to prevent mosquito breeding around the house and to protect against mosquito bites. Precautions include wearing long-sleeved clothes, using mosquito coils and electric vapor mats, and using insect repellent over the exposed parts of the body.
Adoption of good daily habits such as clearing blockages from the roof gutter, clearing leaves and stagnant water from drains, removing water from potted plants daily, avoiding the use of pot plates and changing the water in vases everyday will also help to eliminate the chances of mosquito breeding.
Is there a vaccination against dengue?
There is currently no vaccine available that can prevent dengue.
Will I have immunity against dengue if I was once infected?
A person who was previously infected with dengue will only gain immunity for the particular virus serotype.
There are a total of 4 serotypes of the dengue virus.
Will I have to be hospitalized if I come down with dengue fever?
Hospitalization is recommended for patients who have severe symptoms, and for patients with signs (eg, low platelet counts) that may lead to haemorrhage (internal bleeding).
My neighbor is down with dengue fever, what should I do to protect my family?
The best protection against dengue is to guard against mosquito bites and to ensure no mosquitoes are breeding in your home. (Also refer to the question above on how dengue fever can be prevented.)
Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day, but are usually more active at dusk and dawn. The incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 to 14 days.
What is dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if unrecognized or not treated.
How is dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever spread?
Dengue is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected when they take a blood meal from a dengue-infectedperson and then after about a week can transmit the virus while biting a healthy person.
Can dengue be spread from person to person?
Dengue fever cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is only spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
What are the common symptoms of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue fever is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, (which can last up to 7 days) and is accompanied by intense headache, body aches, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and the development of skin rashes. A blood test will often show low platelets.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever presents similarly to dengue fever but is associated with more severe bleeding problems (e.g. gum bleeding, nose bleeding and bleeding into the skin and internal organs) along with evidence of plasma leakage
Is there any treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever?
There is no specific treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, supportive care with intravenous fluids and frequent blood test monitoring reduces complications of the disease. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be required.
Can dengue fever or dengue haemorrhagic fever lead to death?
Yes. Death can occur in a small minority of persons especially if the infection is not recognized early or early treatment is not sought
How can dengue fever be prevented?
Dengue fever can be prevented through measures to prevent mosquito breeding around the house and to protect against mosquito bites. Precautions include wearing long-sleeved clothes, using mosquito coils and electric vapor mats, and using insect repellent over the exposed parts of the body.
Adoption of good daily habits such as clearing blockages from the roof gutter, clearing leaves and stagnant water from drains, removing water from potted plants daily, avoiding the use of pot plates and changing the water in vases everyday will also help to eliminate the chances of mosquito breeding.
Is there a vaccination against dengue?
There is currently no vaccine available that can prevent dengue.
Will I have immunity against dengue if I was once infected?
A person who was previously infected with dengue will only gain immunity for the particular virus serotype.
There are a total of 4 serotypes of the dengue virus.
Will I have to be hospitalized if I come down with dengue fever?
Hospitalization is recommended for patients who have severe symptoms, and for patients with signs (eg, low platelet counts) that may lead to haemorrhage (internal bleeding).
My neighbor is down with dengue fever, what should I do to protect my family?
The best protection against dengue is to guard against mosquito bites and to ensure no mosquitoes are breeding in your home. (Also refer to the question above on how dengue fever can be prevented.)
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