What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a benign syndrome caused by arthropodborne viruses.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

The signs and symptoms of dengue vary with age from patient to patient. This is characterized by sudden onset of fever-one to seven days; temp. 39.41.1 degrees Celsius.

Headache- this accompanies the fever. May be described as pain behind the eyes and is especially evident when the patient moves his eyes.

Feebleness and weakness.

Joint and muscle pain- one of the most common symptoms.

A transient generalized rash may be seen during the first 24-48 hours of fever.

Second to sixth days- nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

One to two days after the fever is gone- a generalized skin rash which spares the palms and soles and disappears in one to five days. Peeling of the skin or desquamation follows.

Nosebleeding.

Tiny red spots called petechiae or hematoma-like lesions can happen.

Vomiting of brownish to blackish discharge.

Dark-stained stools or blood may also accompany stools.

What is Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome?

Dengue hemorrhagic fever or H fever is a severe, often fatal febrile disease caused by dengue viruses. This happens when many types of dengue viruses are transmitted at the same time.

What carries the virus?

The aedes aegypti is the principal vector. It is a daytime biting mosquito and breeds in clear, stagnant water- like stored water for drinking or bathing or in rain water collected in any container.

How can we prevent dengue fever?

Prevention is always more important than cure. As we learned, three things play an important role in dengue fever: the dengue virus, the mosquito, and man. With the absence of one the disease will not happen.

The following are simple steps you can take to avert the dreaded dengue fever. By taking these steps, it will deny the mosquito of its habitat for laying eggs which will hatch and grow into adults in about seven days.

Refill flower vases with fresh water every other day. Scrub the inside of the vase before pouring water to rid it of unwanted Aedes eggs.

Cover all water containers such as pails and drums with a tight lid, or turn them over and store them under shelter to prevent the mosquito from breeding in them.

Clean roof gutters of debris that prevents draining of rainwater. Repair gutters that do not drain well.

Remove leaves and stagnant water from canals

Do not leave tin cans, old discarded tires, unused aquariums or tarpaulin sheets and bottles out in the open where then can gather rainwater.

If you are going on an extended holiday. Cover toilet bowls and seal off the overflow pipe of the flushing cistern.

Cover rarely used drain traps. Replace drain traps that are no longer used with a non-perforated tile.

Once there is already a victim in the community, isolate the patient for at least 5 days.

Report immediately any suspected case of dengue fever in the neighborhood to the nearest health center.

How to protect man

Because your child moves around a lot, he is more likely to enter the danger zones where mosquitoes abound. Avoid mosquito bites by:

Spraying insecticides in your house and community.

Screen your homes or use mosquito nets.

Cover body with adequate clothing.

Use insect repellants to provide additional protection.

Choosing the right insect repellant

With your child’s sensitive skin, a mild insect repellant should be used. It should be safe and gentle on the skin and, at the same time effective. Insect repellants contain different active ingredients. The most common are citronella and DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide).

Oil of citronella is very effective in warding off some species of flies but not so much against mosquitoes.

DEET is considered the most effective agent against a broad spectrum of biting insects- but its safety in children has been in question. In fact, studies show that some children developed disorders within 8 to 48 hours after application. Adverse effects like slurred speech, staggering gait, agitation, tremor and convulsions have been documented. Researchers have warned that frequent and long term use of DEET could cause brain defects in the vulnerable population, particularly children. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, however, after completing its Safety Review in 1998 has approved the use of DEET in children over 2 months of age. They have however recommended that consumers should carefully follow label instructions and take the proper precautions.

So to ensure the safety of any mosquito product, remember the following:

Do not apply on open wounds or irritated skin.

Do not use under clothing

Use just enough to cover exposed skin and/or clothing

Avoid the areas around the eyes and mouth. As much as possible, also avoid applying on baby’s palms and undersides of feet, since pores on these areas are more open to the entry of outside chemicals into the body.

If you suspect a rash or irritation, consult your doctor.