Definition Dengue fever is a virus-based disease spread by mosquitoes.

See also: Dengue hemorrhagic fever Alternative Names O'nyong-nyong fever; Dengue-like disease; Breakbone fever Causes, Incidence, And Risk Factors Dengue fever is caused by one of four different but related viruses. It is spread by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes parts of:

Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia South and Central America Southeast Asia Sub-Saharan Africa

Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers. Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease that is caused by the same type of virus but has much more severe symptoms. Symptoms Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 - 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable. Other symptoms include:

Headache (especially behind the eyes) Fatigue Joint aches Muscle aches Nausea Swollen lymph nodes Vomiting

Signs And Tests

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:

Antibody titer for dengue virus types Complete blood count (CBC) Serology studies to look for antibodies to dengue viruses

Treatment There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. You will need fluids if there are signs of dehydration. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is used to treat a high fever. Avoid taking aspirin. Expectations (Prognosis) The condition generally lasts a week or more. Although uncomfortable, dengue fever is not deadly. People with the condition should fully recover. Complications

Febrile convulsions Severe dehydration

Calling Your Health Care Provider Call your health care provider if you have traveled in an area where dengue fever is known to occur and have developed symptoms of the disease. Prevention Clothing, mosquito repellent, and netting can help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Traveling during periods of minimal mosquito activity can also be helpful. Mosquito abatement programs may reduce the risk of infection. References Naides SJ. Arthropod-borne viruses causing fever and rash syndromes. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 405. Review Date: 8/28/2009 Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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Articles

Read more: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/dengue_fever/overview/adam20#ixzz1LYSUmOps Dengue fever is an acute disease that often occurs in tropical regions and in rare cases, can be life-threatening. The disease is caused by four closely related viruses of the "Flaviviridae" family, generally transmitted by several species of mosquitoes, including the "alopictus" species that are typically most active during the "dawn" and "dusk" hours of the day. Symptoms of dengue fever include headache, skin rash, muscle soreness and joint pain - where symptoms generally last five to seven days. Dengue fever is most common in warm tropical regions that include countries such as Argentina, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Belize, El Salvador, Grenada, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Jamaica, Trinidad, India, Haiti, Guatemala and Malaysia. By the late 1990's, dengue fever was the most common mosquito-borne disease affecting humans, with an estimated 40 million cases affecting adults and children world-wide. In March 2009, the north tropical region of Australia reported over 500 confirmed cases of dengue fever in the small village of Queensland. While there is currently no government or medical approved vaccine for dengue fever, testing for a possible cure is currently being done through a series of clinical trials in Thai, Australia and Vietnam. After the end of World War II, population movements and shifting spread the disease regionally - while the continued immigration of cultures into other countries has spread the disease globally.

Read more: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/dengue_fever/overview/adam20#ixzz1LYT9mEvG