What is Dengue Fever?

Dengue fever is an illness caused by infection with a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which feeds during the day. Dengue fever is mostly found in the tropics and Africa, and is often found in urban areas of developed tropical nations, including Singapore, Taiwan or Brazil.


Signs and Symptoms

- Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes, and low backache.
- Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs during the first hours of illness.
- Temperature rises quickly as high as 104° F (40° C), with relative low heart rate (bradycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension).
- Eyes redden
- A flush or pale pink rash comes over the face and then disappears.
- Glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and groin are often swollen.

Fever and other signs of dengue last for two to four days, followed by rapid drop in temperature (defervescence) with profuse sweating. This precedes a period with normal temperature and a sense of well-being that lasts about a day. A second rapid rise in temperature follows. A characteristic rash appears along with the fever and spreads from the extremities to cover the entire body except the face. The palms and soles may be bright red and swollen.

Treatment

Because dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration is important. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine may be given for severe headache and for the joint and muscle pain (myalgia).

Prevention

1. Vaccination

2. Mosquito Control

- Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.

- Remove water in plant pot plates. Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove mosquito eggs. Avoid the use of plant pot plates, if possible.

- No tray or receptacles should be placed beneath and or/ on top of any air-conditioning unit so as not to create a condition favourable for mosquito breeding.

- Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.

- Clear fallen leaves and stagnant water in your scupper drains and garden. These leaves could collect water or cause blockages to the drains, thus resulting in the buildup of stagnant water.

- Clear away fallen leaves in roof gutters and apron drains. If structurally feasible, remove the roof gutters.

3. Personal Protection

- Use mosquito nets
- Repellents
- Covering exposed skin

The Aedes Mosquito