Dengue

4. Dengue

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is
an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache,
fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The
presence (the “dengue triad”) of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic
of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red
palms and soles.
Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused
by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack
of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was
exposed.
Dengue goes by other names, including “breakbone” or “dandy fever.” Victims of dengue often
have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence the name breakbone fever. Slaves in
the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and
gait.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of
the viral illness. Manifestations include headache, fever,
rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body. Petechiae
(small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in
the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all
possible signs of hemorrhage. This form of dengue fever
can be life-threatening and can progress to the most
severe form of the illness, dengue shock syndrome.
What areas are at high risk for contracting dengue fever?
Dengue is prevalent throughout the tropics and
subtropics. Outbreaks have occurred recently in the
Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,Cuba, and Central America. Cases have also been imported via tourists returning from areas with
widespread dengue, including Tahiti, Singapore, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies,
India, and the Middle East (similar in distribution to the areas of the world that harbor malaria and
yellow fever). Dengue is now the leading cause of acute febrile illness in U.S. travelers returning from
the Caribbean, South America, and Asia.
A 2009 outbreak of dengue fever in Key West, Fla., showed that three patients who did not travel
outside of the U.S. contracted the virus. Subsequent testing of the population of Key West has shown
that up to 55 of the people living in the area have antibodies to dengue. As of July 17, 2010, 17
individuals have been identified that acquired dengue in Key West in 2010.
Dengue fever is common, and statistics show it may be increasing in Southeast Asia. Thailand,
Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia have all reported an increase in cases. According to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an estimated 100 million cases of
dengue fever with several hundred thousand cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever requiring hospitalization
each year. Nearly 40% of the world’s population lives in an area endemic with dengue.

How is dengue fever contracted?
The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously
bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled
flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease.
The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a
person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway

Dengue fever in India :

• New Delhi : More than 590 cases of dengue fever were reported from Delhi and over 367 from

neighbouring states who had come to New Delhi for treatment.
• Rajasthan : More than 35 patients were treated for dengue fever in Rajasthan
• Chandigarh: 159 cases of dengue fever were reported from the union territory of Chandigarh.
These were reported from Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, the
government run multi-specialty hospital. However out of 159 only 29 were from Chandigarh and
the remaining were from Punjab,Harayana and Uttar Pradesh who had come to chandigarh for
treatment.
• Uttar Pradesh: Over 214 suspected cases of the diseases were reported from Uttar Pradesh.
• Andhra Pradesh: One person succumbed to the disease and at least five were treated for the
dengue fever in Andhra Pradesh.
• West Bengal: Over 30 people were treated for dengue fever in Kolkata, the capital of West
Bengal for suspected dengue fever.
• By October 9, 2006 more than fifty deaths were reported to dengue fever and more than 3613
patients were treated for this disease.