While many people strive for tropical or subtropical areas, few are aware of the danger they might have. Insects may be the safe companions in other areas, in the tropics, however, they might cause grave illnesses. Dengue fever is one of the threats one may encounter while merely walking in the street. It is considered to be the most spread and endangered insect-borne disease after malaria. With this in mind, one has to be aware of its spreading, development, symptoms, and possible cure or prevention methods, which will all be contemplated in the current study.
Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease provoked by the dengue virus (DV). The first description of it was given in 1779 by Bilon (Chepaikina, 2015). Observing the symptoms, the scientist explored the epidemic and called it “joint fever.” In 1869, in Royal College, London, the DV was investigated thoroughly and called “dengue” due to the gait the pain in muscles and joints provoked.
The manner in which the dengue finds its victims is alarmingly simple. The DV enters the human body through the bite of an infected mosquito of Aedes species (CDC, About dengue, 2020). The virus constitutes an exceptional threat for pregnant women. Once the mosquito bites a woman, the dengue can pass the virus to the fetus. The infected mosquitoes themselves can pass the DV to the next generation via eggs, which are normally laid near water in containers – bowls, flower pots, or vases. The Aedes mosquitoes live both outdoors and indoors near people.
Currently, the DV is considered to have four types – I, II, III, and IV. Therefore, a person might become infected with the virus four times in their lifetime (CDC, About dengue, 2020). Typically, an individual infected with any type of virus has a fever after the latent period, which lasts 2-7 days. The period is usually characterized by joint pain, sore throat, anorexia, muscle soreness, skin rash, and headache.
While in the area exposed to dengue spreading, an individual should observe their wellbeing in order to detect the infection timely. As for the many diseases, the symptoms can be mild or severe. In this case, the mild ones might be confused with other illnesses that cause fever. Eye pain, headache, rash, muscle and bone pain, and nausea are among them (CDC, About dengue, 2020). The severe dengue symptoms, in turn, can be life-threatening and may require immediate hospitalization. In the 24-48 hours after the fever went away, the warning signs may appear. The manifestation includes stomach pain, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, feeling tired or irritable, or even vomiting blood. The serious form of dengue may result in internal bleeding, shock, and death.
Since over half of the cases show typical symptoms of fever, the laboratory diagnosis is crucial. To treat the disease well, it is vital to accurately and quickly diagnose it. The primary method underlies the detection of antibodies, nucleic acid detection, and antigen one. Then, clinical treatment is also obligatory – it includes intravenous infusion, which can reduce the mortality of critically ill patients.
However, the particular vaccine for dengue fever does not exist at the moment. Although the dissemination of the DV can be regulated by preventing mosquitoes’ reproduction. The health departments and mosquito control districts elaborate on the plans to limit the course of the larvae and adult breeding. Another way of DV restriction is the protection from the bites themselves. The individuals can use insect repellents, dress the children in clothes covering legs and arms, or use permethrin to treat clothing (CDC, Prevent mosquito bites, 2020). In the house, one may also use air-conditioning, put screens on windows and doors, or empty and scrub the water containers to stop the mosquitoes from laying eggs nearby.
As stated before, the dengue virus is alarmingly spreading and challenging the public health sector. The disease is common in areas throughout the Americas and Asia. In the countries of Asia Pacific, infection ratings are over 70% (Bawaskar & Shinde, 2019). At the moment, 50-100 million dengue cases are confirmed annually (Bawaskar & Shinde, 2019). In turn, the DV cases in India reached an average of 5.778.406 annually confirmed (Bawaskar & Shinde, 2019). Globalization, population growth, and mobility cause further spreading of the virus and widen the high-risk area beyond the tropical and subtropical territories.
Dengue fever remains a challenging and threatening issue as of now. Once an infected mosquito bites its victim, the disease enters the body. Discovered in the 18th century, the dengue virus is now widely spread in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite that, in most cases, it manifests itself with the typical symptoms of fever, the severe course of it might lead to death. To prevent the deplorable consequences, one should test and diagnose it timely. Moreover, diverse methods to control mosquito reproduction are used nowadays. People can also protect themselves with insect repellents, dress clothing that covers the body parts exposed to bites, and clean the water containers timely.
References
Bawaskar, R. S., Shinde, V. H. (2019). A review of homeopathic research in the prevention and treatment of dengue fever. Homœopathic Links, 32(1), 10-17.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). About dengue. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Prevent mosquito bites. Web.
Chepaikina, C. O. (2015). Clinical manifestations of imported cases of dengue fever. International Student’s Journal of Medicine, 1(1), 36-38.