Dengue fever

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(Redirected from Dengue)

For other uses, see Dengue fever (disambiguation).

Dengue fever

Classification and external resources

The typical rash seen in dengue fever

ICD-10

A90

ICD-9

061

DiseasesDB

3564

MedlinePlus

001374

eMedicine

med/528

MeSH

C02.782.417.214

Dengue fever (UK /de/ or US /di/), also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever,headache, muscle and joint pains, and a

characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threateningdengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressureoccurs. Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principallyA. aegypti. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelongimmunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. The incidence of dengue fever has increased dramatically since the 1960s, with around 50100 million people infected yearly. Early descriptions of the condition date from 1779, and its viral cause and the transmission were elucidated in the early 20th century. Dengue has become a global problem since the Second World War and is endemic in more than 110 countries. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing on a vaccine, as well as medication targeted directly at the virus.
Contents
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1 Signs and symptoms

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1.1 Clinical course 1.2 Associated problems

2 Cause

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2.1 Virology 2.2 Transmission 2.3 Predisposition

3 Mechanism

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3.1 Viral replication 3.2 Severe disease

4 Diagnosis

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4.1 Classification 4.2 Laboratory tests

5 Prevention 6 Management

7 Epidemiology 8 History

8.1 Etymology

9 Research 10 Notes 11 References 12 External links