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Dengue
What is it?
Dengue (den-ghee) is a viral disease caused by all four serotypes of the virus. The disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, which themselves become infected when they bite a person who has dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue can’t be spread directly from person to person. It is estimated that there are more than 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if it is not recognised and properly treated. With proper medical management, less than 1 per cent of people infected with DHF die from the disease. In its severest form it may result in shock (dengue shock syndrome), which has a high fatality rate.
Where is it found?
Dengue is found wherever the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus occur: tropical and subtropical regions of North, Central and South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Queensland and some Pacific Islands.
What are its effects?
The main symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains, nausea and vomiting, eye pain and rash. Children generally have milder illness than older children and adults.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever is characterised by a fever and symptoms that occur with other illnesses; for example, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and headache. This stage is followed by bruising or skin haemorrhages and a bleeding nose or gums. Internally, small blood vessels can rupture, possibly leading to circulatory failure and shock, followed by death.
There is no specific medication for dengue or DHF.