Dengue

Dengue is a febrile illness caused by a flavivirus transmitted by principal vector is the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Aedes aegypti charecheristic black body white with white stripes

Features

Fever,backache, arthralgias, headache, generalised pains (‘break-bone fever’), pain on eye movement, lacrimation, scleral injection, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, pharyngitis, upper respiratory tract symptoms, relative bradycardia, prostration, depression, hyperaesthesia, dysgeusia, lymphadenopathy

Warning signs

Probable dengue plus one of:

Abdominal pain or tenderness

Persistent vomiting Signs of fluid accumulation, e.g. pleural effusion or ascites

Mucosal bleed

Hepatomegaly > 2 cm

Rapid increase in haematocrit with fall in platelet count

Needs medical intervention, e.g. intravenous fluid

Diagnosis

The diagnosis can be confirmed by seroconversion of IgM or a fourfold rise in IgG antibody titres

Serological tests may detect cross-reacting antibodies

detection of dengue virus RNA by PCR in blood or CSF

(ELISA) kits to detect the NS1 viral antigen

Treatment

supportive, emphasising fluid replacement

No existing antivirals are effective.

Aspirin should be avoided due to bleeding risk

Liscenced Vaccine is available DENGAVAXIA

Ref,Davidson medicine