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Understanding Dengue Fever: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
In the tropical city buzzing with life, Cole a 35-year-old, suddenly started feeling unwell. What began as mild fever quickly escalated to severe joint pain and continuous headache. Worried, he booked an online appointment with his local doctor through Cellmaflex, and during the visit, the doctor suspected dengue fever-–a common yet potentially deadly illness. As Cole underwent several tests and received treatment, he learned more about dengue, that has affected him and countless others around the world.
In our blog, you will learn what dengue fever is, its transmission, dengue fever symptoms, global impact and prevention.
What is Dengue Fever?
It is an illness one can get from the bite of a mosquito carrying one of four types of dengue virus (DENV). The virus is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions such as, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Dengue is not contagious and does not spread from person to person except when passed from a pregnant person to their child. The symptoms are usually mild with the first infection, but if one gets another infection with a different version of DENV, the risk of severe complications goes up.
Global Impact of Dengue Fever:
The occurrence of dengue has grown immensely around the world in recent decades. The cases reported to WHO have increased from 505 430 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. Majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported.
According to WHO, the highest number of dengue cases was recorded in 2023, affecting over 80 countries in all regions of WHO. Since the beginning of 2023 ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases, resulted in a historic high of over 6.5 million cases and more than 7300 dengue-related deaths reported.
Several factors are associated with the increasing risk of spread of the dengue epidemic: the changing distribution of the vectors (chiefly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes), especially in previously dengue naïve countries; and climate change leading to increasing temperatures and high rainfall and humidity.
WHO stated that, one modelling estimate indicated 390 million dengue virus infections per year of which 96 million manifests clinically. Another study on the prevalence of dengue estimates that 3.9 billion people are at risk of infection with dengue viruses.
Transmission and the Role of Aedes Mosquitoes
Dengue fever is essentially transmitted through the bites of Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes. These kinds of mosquitoes are highly adapted to human environments and are mostly active during early mornings and late afternoons. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector and is known for biting humans, while Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, transmits the virus but is less efficient.
The lifecycle of the Aedes mosquito involves laying eggs in stagnant water, which hatch into larvae and develop into adult mosquitoes. Effective control of these mosquitoes is crucial for preventing the spread of dengue.
What are the dengue fever symptoms?
Many people affected by dengue fever experience no signs or symptoms of a dengue infection. When symptoms do occur, they may be mistaken for other illnesses such as the flu and usually begin four to 10 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito.
Dengue fever causes a high fever 104 F (40 C) and any of the following signs and symptoms:
- Headache
- Muscle, bone or joint pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
- Swollen glands
- Rash
Most people recover within a week or so. In some cases, though, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.
Severe dengue happens when the blood vessels become damaged and leaky. And the number of platelets (cells important in clot formation) in the bloodstream drops. This can lead to shock, internal bleeding, organ failure and even death.
Warning signs of severe dengue fever which is a life-threatening emergency can develop quickly. Warning signs of severe dengue are usually seen 24 to 48 hours after your fever goes away. The signs include:
- Severe stomach pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Bleeding from your gums or nose
- Blood in your urine, stools or vomit
- Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
- Difficult or rapid breathing
- Fatigue
- Irritability or restlessness
Prevention
The best way to reduce the risk of dengue fever is to protect yourself from mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellents that contain 20% to 30% DEET or other ingredients known to help keep Aedes mosquitos away.
- Cover exposed skin outdoors, especially at night when mosquitos are more likely to be around.
- Remove standing water (buckets or barrels, bird baths, old tires that may hold rainwater) and fill low spots where water can pool.
- Keep mosquitos outside of your home by repairing holes in screens and keeping windows and doors closed if possible.
- Use mosquito netting at night in areas where dengue is common.
- If pregnant, avoid traveling to areas where dengue is common if possible.
- When traveling, be sure to check with the CDC to understand if there are any outbreaks of illness in your destination before you leave.
How Cellmaflex helps patients-
Cellmaflex is an all-in-one healthcare hub. Patients can sign up on Cellmaflex for free. Through Cellmaflex, they can search the directory to find the right specialist in a few clicks. Patients can easily view the doctors’ calendars and check their availability. With Cellmaflex, patients can book appointments with desired doctors with ease and receive appointment reminders.
Patients can receive their test results directly, access the test results and health records anytime, anywhere. Patients can order prescriptions with secure online payments.
Dengue fever is a concerning global health challenge. It is important to understand its transmission, symptoms, and prevention strategies, and take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and our communities. Whether it is through careful mosquito control, using protective clothing and repellents, and participating in community education and clean-up efforts, every action counts.
Book an appointment on Cellmaflex and get the professional medical support you need to manage and overcome dengue.
FAQs
Can you get dengue fever multiple times?
Yes. you can get dengue more than once.
What can I expect if I have dengue fever?
Most cases of dengue fever don’t have symptoms, or the symptoms are mild, but sometimes you can have a more serious case that requires immediate medical attention.
