dengue /den·gue/ (den´ge) an infectious, eruptive, febrile, viral disease of tropical areas, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, and marked by severe pains in the head, eyes, muscles, and joints, sore throat, catarrhal symptoms, and sometimes a skin eruption and painful swellings of parts.
dengue [deng´e; Spanish, dān´ga]
Patient discussion about dengue.
den·gue (d ng g , -g )n. An acute, infectious tropical disease caused by an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by high fever, rash, headache, and severe muscle and joint pain. Also called breakbone fever, dandy fever. |
dengue [deng´e; Spanish, dān´ga]
a painful viral disease that flourishes in tropical climates throughout the world; the virus that causes it is carried by Aedes mosquitoes. Because of the intense pain in the bones, dengue is also known as “breakbone fever” and by other names based on the necessity of keeping the neck rigid, such as “dandy” and “giraffe.” People who have had dengue are generally immunized against further attacks for 5 years, but epidemics tend to recur at five-year intervals. Occasional epidemics occur in the Gulf states of the United States.
Symptoms. The symptoms begin within a week after the bite of the infected mosquito and begin with a severe headache and pain behind the eyes. Within hours the characteristic pain in the back and joints begins. Movement is difficult, and the temperature may rise as high as 41°C (106°F). A pink rash, congested eyeballs, and a flushed face are outward signs. The disease usually has two stages of about 3 days and 2 days, separated by a period of 24 hours in which symptoms disappear and there may be hope that the attack is over. The second stage is marked by the earlier symptoms, and in addition a red rash appears on the trunk and lower extremities, often leading to peeling skin. The total course of the disease is rarely more than 6 or 7 days. Although the sufferer is exhausted and less resistant to other diseases, dengue by itself is rarely fatal. Convalescence is slow.
Treatment and Prevention. As there is no known remedy for dengue, the treatment is mainly palliative; analgesics to relieve the pain and a large intake of liquid are the basic essentials, along with maintenance of an environment conducive to rest. Aspirin should be avoided to prevent problems associated with thrombocytopenia that often occurs with the disease. The best method of preventing dengue is by controlling the mosquito, and in some areas this has been successful. In areas lacking mosquito control, protective clothing should be worn outside and mosquito netting used indoors to reduce the risk of infection.
Patient discussion about dengue.
Q. What are the symptoms of dengue fever? Can you die from dengue fever? Can it be cured without anything like normal cough? How long till someone dies from being infected?
A. Fever, headache, joint and muscle pain. Can include nausea and vomiting. Yes, this is a nasty disease and it can kill you. Symptoms usually appear in 3-5 days, and death can occur in as little as 14 days. It is common in some parts of the tropics and is contracted through mosquito bites. This is a serious illness and requires prompt medical attention.
My brother got it in Thailand. He was hospitalized there for almost 3 weeks. He is fine now.
Read more or ask a question about dengueMy brother got it in Thailand. He was hospitalized there for almost 3 weeks. He is fine now.
Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|