Dengue Virus is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can result in fever and flu-like symptoms. The infection can not spread through human contact but can transfer through the bite of mosquito species called “Aedes”. Dengue virus is also known as the “Dandy virus” or “break-bone virus” due to the extreme pain that patients experience while suffering from it.
What Causes Dengue Virus?
Since the dengue virus is not contagious, it cannot pass from one person to another. So the only possible cause of dengue is a mosquito bite from an infected mosquito. By infected mosquito what we mean here is when a mosquito sucks the blood of an already infected person, they become infected and can pass the disease to another person by biting them.
Some other possible causes of the dengue virus can be:
- Living in a subtropical or tropical area
- Being around an infected person without taking proper measures to avoid mosquito presence
- Weak immune system and history of previous dengue infection (in case of dengue hemorrhagic fever)
What Are the Types of Dengue Virus?
Dengue can be classified into the following types:
- Mild Dengue Fever:
It is a viral infection, in which symptoms like fever, joint pain, or headache may take almost 7 days to show up. However, these symptoms usually clear up after a week without causing any serious complications.
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever:
After contracting this type of dengue virus, patients may experience symptoms similar to Mild Dengue Fever. However, these symptoms may turn worse with time and can cause serious complications like internal bleeding. If the patient doesn’t receive timely treatment, this type of dengue fever can be fatal.
- Dengue Shock Syndrome:
It is a fatal type of dengue virus. It occurs when the patient’s condition worsens while they are suffering from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. Patients experience severe symptoms like bleeding while they are excreting or internal bleeding. Some patients might suddenly collapse too due to low blood pressure.
What Are the Symptoms of Dengue?
Symptoms of this virus may take up to 15 days to show. Also, they depend on the severity of the dengue fever you have. However, some common symptoms of the dengue virus are:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Reappearing body rashes
- Headache
- Eye pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- High fever
In more severe cases, the patient may experience:
- Nose bleeding
- Internal bleeding
- Clammy skin
- Low platelet count
- Stomach issues
- Weak pulse
- Fatigue
- Blood in vomit, feces, etc.
- Drop in blood pressure
- Hypotension
If you have any of these symptoms, go to oladoc.com to connect with a competent physician near you.
How Doctors Diagnose Dengue?
Your physician will ask you questions like your travel history or encounter with an infected person. For making an exact diagnosis they will order some diagnostic tests like:
- NS1 antigen
- Immunoglobulin M
- Immunoglobulin N
- Dengue RNA PCR test
- Serological Test
- Virological Test
What Are the Treatments for Dengue?
Unfortunately, dengue is a viral infection so there is no specific medication that can treat dengue. However, there are some ways that can help lower the chances of severity. Those are:
- Hydration:
Since the patient experiences constant vomiting and fever, keeping the body hydrated is important. Whether you are opting for treatment at home or hospital, drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water and juices should be your priority.
- Painkillers:
To ease joint pain, body ache, and fever, patients must take painkillers like Tylenol or paracetamol. However, ibuprofen and similar medications must be avoided as they can put you at risk of internal bleeding.
- Intravenous fluid supplementation:
If the patient is unable to take food through the mouth, IV fluid supplementation should be given.
- Blood transfusion:
If the patient experiences extreme dehydration and other severe symptoms, blood transfusion is recommended.
Mild cases of dengue can be treated at home. But if you start experiencing severe symptoms as mentioned above seek immediate medical advice from a General Physician in Karachi.
