Dengue Fever

Dengue fever Spring 2009 Abstract Dengue Fever: is an infectious disease, which it is caused by tiny pathogenic (harmful) organisms that can be contagious by spreading among people upon contact with an infected person. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) “Dengue is the most common and widespread arthropod-borne viral infection in the world. ” (World Health Organization, 2008) The mosquito Aedes aegypti, who feed during the day are the transmitters of the virus. They are found in the tropic areas and Africa.

The disease is caused by four closeley related but distinct types of serotype viruses named dengue virus 1(DEN-1), dengue virus2 ( DEN-2), dengue virus 3 (DEN-3), and dengue virus 4 (DEN-4) named by Albert Sabin in 1944. (World Health Organization, 2008) Dengue virsus are small, spherical single-stranded RNA viruses with an evelope from the family Flavividae. Its classification is Group IV (+) ssRNA, the Flavivirdea Family, Genus: Flavivirus, and Species: Dengue Virus. Symptoms of Dengue virus are fever, discomfort, rash, sever headach, muscle and joint pains which also called “Break bone fever”. Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Introduction This term paper will define the mosquito virus Dengue fever by looking at the history,transmission, symptoms, treatment and prevention. It will help you gain knowledge and inform you of recent epidemics of the virus. Dengue is the most common and widespread arthropod-borne viral infection in the world. ” (World Health Organization, 2008) There is no known cure for the virus. Without proper care in some sever cases, the victim may go into shock and death within twenty-four hours. (World Health Organization, 2008) The death toll for the virus is 10,000 + per a year.

Dengue cases will grow within each year. United Nations Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change announced that by 1085 , at least 3. 5 billion people will be at risk for the disease. (Wenner, 2008) History The term “dengue” origins are not clear but some say it is from the Swahili phrase “ka-dinga pepo”, which is described as evil spirit. The first recorded potential case of dengue is in a Chinese medical encyclopedia from Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD). The Chinese stated it was a water poison due to flying insects. (Wikipedia, 2007) The first bona fide cases of dengue were recorded in 1779 in Batavia, Indonesia and in Cairo, Egypt.

In 1780, the first definitive case was reported by Dr. Benjamin Rush, he termed the disease as “break bone fever” because of his patient symptoms of Myalgia and Arthralgia. (Web MD, 2008) The first reported epidemic was in 1818 with 50,000 cases. In 1827, dengue became a global concern when the first recorded pandemic of dengue in the Caribbean-Gulf-Atlantic region happen. Started in the Virgin Islands then moved to the west of Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela, then United States port cities of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. Moved on to Mexico and disappeared in 1828 after ten years. Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) The viral etilogy and the tranmission by mosquitos were deciphered in the twentyth centuary. (Wikipedia, 2007) In America there were fewer epidemics in the early nineteen hundreds. Also population movements during World War II help make the spread the disease. And in the seventies with the rise in international air travel, making the virus easy transferred from country to country. (Frankel, 1995) The worst of dengue fever is dengue hemorrhagic fever. Is classified with the most feared of all viral diseases. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) can cause trauma or worse, fatalilty.

DHF happens when a host is reinfected with the viruse. DHF effects most parts of the body as a multisystem syndrome. The vascular system is damaged and can not recopurate itself. There are still Dengue epidemics occurring today. Last year on December 1, 2008 an outbreak occurred in Carins on Queensland, Australia. As of March 2009 there were 503 confirmed cases. Dengue 1-4, has been reported of involvement with many cities throughout Australia. On March 4, 2009 a confirmed death of an elderly woman died of dengue fever. (Wikipedia, 2007) Transmission

The primary vector of dengue fever is the mosquito Aedes Aegptyi. This mosquito is smaller than other mosquito’s. It is black with white spots on its body and head regions, it also has white rings on the legs. (A little known fact of mosquito’s, is that the males don’t bite any humans or animals, they feed on fruit. It is the females that bite to mature their eggs with the blood. A mosquito can live for months if left unmolested. ) The female Aedes mosquito lays their eggs separately over a large surface of water. This water has to be clean and have no other living species.

The eggs are white when laid but will turn black. It feeds on bacteria in the water and shed their skins as they grow. Andes live ninety meters from human dwellings. When they attack their victims it is mostly from behind on the lower body such as the ankles and feet. It is fast unless full from its meal, blood. Andes mosquito can be found in the tropic areas. They are also day time feeders. (Hart, 2004) Dengue viruse are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito gets the viruse from a human that has already been infected with dengue.

Then the mosquito can carry the virus to another human, biting the uninfected human with the infectious disease. The mosquito will stay infected till its death 15-65 days. Also the viruse can be passed down to the eggs of the mosquito as a vertical transmission. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Once the virus is inoculated into the host, it is incubated for 3 to 14 days. A fever will follow the incubation, within 7 to 10 days recovery is complete. The human host will be immune to the one type of dengue it contracted. So later in life if the infected person gets reinfected with the same serotype of dengue, no worse symptoms will arise.

But if the person is infected with another serotype of dengue the symptoms are much worse. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Symptoms The symptoms can vary on age of the patient. Chidren are easy targets for the disease. Young children may have a high fever and no sign of discomfort. Older children and adults don’t show any syptoms. But they may get a high fever or a mild fever or both. Patients also experianced headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and bone or joint pains, nausea, vomiting and rash. Also patients have reported bleeding from the skin, gums, stomach, intestines and urine.

In clinical test, patients have a low count of white blood cells. Leading to a diagnosis of Leukopeni, where the patient is suffering from fatigue and depression. (World Health Organization, 2008) When a patient is infected with dengue hemorrhagic fever the symptoms delvelop within the first week. The syptoms are the same as DGF but there is plasma leakage and bleeding. It is incresed by capillary fragility and thrombocytopenia, causing small skin hemorrhages to life-threatening gastrointestional bleeding. As well as enlarged livers and poor blood circulations.

Children that suffer from DHF have high fever of 105 F, for a whole week, causing them to have convulsions. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Also a patients that are suffering from DHF can develop another condition of the viruse, Dengue Shock Syndrom(DSS). DSS develops after the fall of high fever of seven days. Symptoms are: skin becomes cold, blothcy and congusted, fast pulse rate, restless and abdominal pain. Patients will go into a state of sever shock without sign. Most of the patients die from DSS if not immediately treated. (Tirtha Chakraborty, 2008) Treatment No dengue vaccine is availale.

Although there are a need for candidates for a vaccine researchers have developed. Early diagnosis will reduce the morbidity and mortality rate. (World Health Organization, 2008) Patient must avoid any aspirin products. Patients should consume oral fluids to keep the body hydrated. Close monitoring of the patient is a must for the threat of shock. (Center for Disease Control, 2008) The Center for Disease Control states “an effective dengue vaccine for public use will not be available for 5 to 10 years”. (Center for Disease Control, 2008) Prevention Mosquito control is the primary prevention of dengue.

There are two methods to mosquito control: larval control and adult mosquito control. Larvel control is to spray the breeding grounds of mosquitos. Such actions must be approved by the World Health Organization. Adult control prevention of the mosquito bite is by using insect repellents, traps or nets. (Web MD, 2008) In 2009, scientists from the University of Queensland in Austrialia reveleved that infecting Aedes mosquitos with the bacterium Wolnachia, the female adult lifespan was reduced by half. (Wikipedia, 2009) Summary In summary, dengue fever is widely spread and very dangorus.

It has been in our history and still lives today. With the knowledge and care for the diseases you may lower your risk of infection. Works Cited Center for Disease Control. (2008, April 24). Dengue Fever. Retrieved March 19, 2009, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www. cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue/#history Frankel, D. H. (1995, October 07). Americas act to combat dengue outbreaks. Dengue Outbreaks , p. 2. Hart, T. (2004). Microterrors: the complete guide to bacterial, viral and fungal infections that threaten our health. Buffalo: Firefly Books Ltd. Tirtha Chakraborty, P. 2008). Dengue Fever and other Hemorrhagic Viruses. New York: Chelsea House Publisers. Web MD. (2008, October). Caribbean Dangers. Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Web MD Video: http://www. webmd. com/video/travel-dengue-fever Wenner, M. (2008, October). The Five Diseases You Should Worry About. The Five Diseases You Should Worry About , p. 3. Wikipedia. (2007, December). Dengue Fever. Retrieved March 2009, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dengue_fever#References World Health Organization. (2008, April 10). Dengue Fever in Brazil. Dengue Fever in Brazil , p. 2.