Post by fob on Sept 25, 2006 14:00:58 GMT -5
Dengue Fever - What you need to know
For your information
--------------------------------------------------
This message is from Andrea S. Bajao on behalf of Occupational Health Services
For inquiries you may call 6716 or e-mail andrea.bajao@intel.com
-------------------------------------------------
The Department of Health National Epidemiology Center recorded at least 13,468 dengue cases from January 1 till August 29, 2006, about 42% higher than those documented during the same period last year. From these cases, 167 deaths were reported.
With this data, it is important that we know more about the dreaded Dengue.
[glow=red,2,300]What is Dengue? [/glow]
It is an acute flu-like fever caused by any one of four closely related viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, or DEN-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the most important transmitter or vector of dengue viruses.
[glow=red,2,300]What is Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)? [/glow]
It is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue.
[glow=red,2,300]How can someone get dengue fever? [/glow]
Dengue fever occurs following the bite of an infected mosquito Aedes aegypti. This type of mosquito has a peculiar white spotted body and legs and is easy to recognize even by laymen.
[glow=red,2,300]When should I suspect Dengue? [/glow]
Dengue should be suspected when you have sudden onset of fever. The fever is high ranging from 39-40 degrees C. It is accompanied with severe headache (mostly in the forehead), pain behind the eyes, body aches and pains, rash on the skin and nausea or vomiting. The fever lasts for 5-7 days. In some patients, fever comes down on 3rd or 4th day but comes back. All the above symptoms and signs may not be present in the patient. The patient feels much discomfort after the illness.
[glow=red,2,300]Can you get dengue again after suffering from it once? [/glow]
It is possible to get dengue more than once. Dengue can occur because of 4 different but related strains of dengue virus. If a person has suffered from one virus, there can be a repeat occurrence of dengue if a different strain is involved subsequently. Being affected by one strain offers no protection against the others. A person could suffer from dengue more than once in her/his lifetime.
[glow=red,2,300]Can I get dengue fever from another person? [/glow]
Dengue does not spread directly from person to person. It is only spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
[glow=red,2,300]What is the treatment? Is it curable? [/glow]
Like most viral diseases there is no specific cure for dengue fever. Antibiotics do not help. Paracetamol to bring down fever and joint pain can be taken. Other medicines such as Aspirin and Ibuprofens should be avoided since they can increase the risk of bleeding.
They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician. Hospitalization is frequently required in order to adequately manage DHF.
[glow=red,2,300]Do we have vaccines for Dengue Fever? [/glow]
No dengue vaccine is available. Recently, however, attenuated candidate vaccine viruses have been developed in Thailand. Efficacy trials in human volunteers have yet to be initiated. Therefore, an effective Dengue vaccine for public use will not be available in the next 5 to 10 years.
[glow=red,2,300]When do I consult a physician? [/glow]
* See a doctor immediately if you suspect you've been exposed to a VHF virus.
* If you become ill while traveling in a foreign country, call the local health unit that handles infectious diseases. It can help provide the information you need.
* If you develop signs and symptoms once you return home, consider consulting a doctor who focuses on international medicine or infectious diseases. A specialist may be able to recognize and treat your illness more quickly than a doctor who isn't trained in these areas can.
[glow=red,2,300]What can we do to prevent dengue? [/glow]
Prevent existing water collections from becoming places for breeding of A.aegypti by draining out water from various containers, by regular changing of water plus cleaning flower vases and other items or, in the case of unused items, by discarding/destroying them.
The main strategy in the prevention and control of dengue is "source reduction", or prevention of breeding places, mentioned above.
Resources:
www.doh.gov.ph/advisory/denguer.htm
WWW.WHO.COM
WWW.CDC.COM
WWW.MAYOCLINIC.COM
For your information
--------------------------------------------------
This message is from Andrea S. Bajao on behalf of Occupational Health Services
For inquiries you may call 6716 or e-mail andrea.bajao@intel.com
-------------------------------------------------
The Department of Health National Epidemiology Center recorded at least 13,468 dengue cases from January 1 till August 29, 2006, about 42% higher than those documented during the same period last year. From these cases, 167 deaths were reported.
With this data, it is important that we know more about the dreaded Dengue.
[glow=red,2,300]What is Dengue? [/glow]
It is an acute flu-like fever caused by any one of four closely related viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, or DEN-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the most important transmitter or vector of dengue viruses.
[glow=red,2,300]What is Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)? [/glow]
It is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue.
[glow=red,2,300]How can someone get dengue fever? [/glow]
Dengue fever occurs following the bite of an infected mosquito Aedes aegypti. This type of mosquito has a peculiar white spotted body and legs and is easy to recognize even by laymen.
[glow=red,2,300]When should I suspect Dengue? [/glow]
Dengue should be suspected when you have sudden onset of fever. The fever is high ranging from 39-40 degrees C. It is accompanied with severe headache (mostly in the forehead), pain behind the eyes, body aches and pains, rash on the skin and nausea or vomiting. The fever lasts for 5-7 days. In some patients, fever comes down on 3rd or 4th day but comes back. All the above symptoms and signs may not be present in the patient. The patient feels much discomfort after the illness.
[glow=red,2,300]Can you get dengue again after suffering from it once? [/glow]
It is possible to get dengue more than once. Dengue can occur because of 4 different but related strains of dengue virus. If a person has suffered from one virus, there can be a repeat occurrence of dengue if a different strain is involved subsequently. Being affected by one strain offers no protection against the others. A person could suffer from dengue more than once in her/his lifetime.
[glow=red,2,300]Can I get dengue fever from another person? [/glow]
Dengue does not spread directly from person to person. It is only spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
[glow=red,2,300]What is the treatment? Is it curable? [/glow]
Like most viral diseases there is no specific cure for dengue fever. Antibiotics do not help. Paracetamol to bring down fever and joint pain can be taken. Other medicines such as Aspirin and Ibuprofens should be avoided since they can increase the risk of bleeding.
They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician. Hospitalization is frequently required in order to adequately manage DHF.
[glow=red,2,300]Do we have vaccines for Dengue Fever? [/glow]
No dengue vaccine is available. Recently, however, attenuated candidate vaccine viruses have been developed in Thailand. Efficacy trials in human volunteers have yet to be initiated. Therefore, an effective Dengue vaccine for public use will not be available in the next 5 to 10 years.
[glow=red,2,300]When do I consult a physician? [/glow]
* See a doctor immediately if you suspect you've been exposed to a VHF virus.
* If you become ill while traveling in a foreign country, call the local health unit that handles infectious diseases. It can help provide the information you need.
* If you develop signs and symptoms once you return home, consider consulting a doctor who focuses on international medicine or infectious diseases. A specialist may be able to recognize and treat your illness more quickly than a doctor who isn't trained in these areas can.
[glow=red,2,300]What can we do to prevent dengue? [/glow]
Prevent existing water collections from becoming places for breeding of A.aegypti by draining out water from various containers, by regular changing of water plus cleaning flower vases and other items or, in the case of unused items, by discarding/destroying them.
The main strategy in the prevention and control of dengue is "source reduction", or prevention of breeding places, mentioned above.
Resources:
www.doh.gov.ph/advisory/denguer.htm
WWW.WHO.COM
WWW.CDC.COM
WWW.MAYOCLINIC.COM