How to combat devastating Dengue fever rash

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection. The infection causes a severe flu-like illness. It can sometimes escalate to a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.

Cause of Dengue fever

Dengue is majorly found in urban slums or even the suburbs in tropical and subtropical countries.

The virus causing Dengue fever is called Dengue virus (DEN). It is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

WHO points out that the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits DEN

“The viruses are passed on to humans through the bites of an infective female Aedes mosquito, which mainly acquires the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person,” writes WHO in their website.

Experts say that when the human beings get infected, they become the main multipliers of the virus. They can serve as source of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes. The virus circulates in the blood of a person 2-7 days. Patients who are infected can transmit Dengue fever through Aedes mosquitoes after the first symptoms appear (during 4-5 days).

Symptoms of Dengue fever

Patients who are infected with Dengue fever elicit signs of severe flu. The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the ages of the patients.

The patient’s fever also rises to (40C or 104F) and exhibits some of the following symptoms:

Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days after a bite from an infected mosquito. The virus incubates for 4-10 days.

WHO warns that severe Dengue fever is fatal. It elicits plasma leaking, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, organ impairment and fluid accumulation. The signs of severe dengue fever manifest 3-7 days after the initial signs. The patient’s fever drops below (38C or 100F)

These are the signs to look out for:

“The next 24-48 hours of the critical stage can be lethal; proper medical care is needed to avoid complications and risk of death,” indicates WHO

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Dengue fever because it is caused by a virus. Doctors recommend taking treatment that will combat the symptoms.

WHO recommends that patients should take Paracetamol to relieve the fever and joint pains. Aspirin and Ibuprofen should be avoided like a plague since they might escalate bleeding or hemorrhage.

Patients who are ridden with severe Dengue fever should go to hospital to be monitored by nurses and physicians. The care should center on maintaining the patients normal circulation volume of fluid.

Prevention of Dengue fever

WHO states that the most effective way of preventing and controlling Dengue fever is eradication of vector mosquitoes.