All You Need to Know About Dengue

by Aisha Kapoor Medical Laboratory Professional

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. This is usually diagnosed in people who live in tropical and subtropical climates. A blood test can detect the dengue virus or antibodies produced in response to the infection.

Here are a few points that will help in better understanding of the viral infection:

Symptoms

Although most people won't show any immediate symptoms of dengue, they may eventually observe mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and chills.

Some of the most commonly experienced symptoms are:

Sudden high fever
Rashes on the face
Swollen glands
Severe headache
Nausea and vomiting
Joint and muscle pain
Fatigue

These symptoms may last for about a week, but dengue fever may often develop into a much more serious condition like dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF mostly develops in children or people with weak immunity. DHF may cause more severe symptoms and can even be life-threatening. Thus, it is recommended that one should get a dengue test at home done as soon as possible if he/she observes such symptoms.

Treatment

There is no such specific antidote for dengue fever, but certain medications may provide relief from the above-mentioned symptoms. And in case the patient is diagnosed with dengue haemorrhagic fever, he/she should get admitted to a hospital for treatment. Treatment for DHF would include getting fluids through an intravenous (IV) line and a blood transfusion if the patient has lost a significant amount of blood, which will be followed by careful monitoring of blood pressure.

Prevention

One should take the following preventive steps to reduce the risk of getting infected with the dengue virus:

Apply an insect repellent cream that contains DEET on the skin
Apply an insect repellent patch on the clothing
Sleep under a mosquito net
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
Use screens on windows and doors

We hope that this information would provide significant information about dengue fever, its symptoms, and prevention methods. One can visit the nearest blood diagnostic centre near you or pathology lab to know more about the process of a dengue test.