About the Spread of Dengue Fever

While Dengue Fever is by no means a new phenomenon, over the past few decades it has become more widely known and understood. A relatively recent increase in the number of reported cases among world travelers has led to higher interest in the disease among the general population.

History

Also known as Breakbone Fever, Dengue Fever was discovered and named in 1779, just before the first recorded epidemic of the disease. That epidemic began in Asia in the early 1780s and spread to both Africa and North America before the rate of infection began to subside a few years later. While it has remained relatively uncommon in the US, the illness has existed in various parts of the world throughout history. In the 1950s, a worldwide pandemic of Dengue Fever began in South Asia, spreading throughout many tropical and temperate zones.

There is a noticeable pattern to the rise and fall of the number of people affected by Dengue Fever, which seems to recur about every 5 to 6 months. Because Dengue Fever is spread in much the same way as malaria--through the bite of an infected mosquito--this pattern is thought to be related to the life and breeding cycles of the insect known to carry the virus.

Geography

Dengue Fever is most common in Southeast Asia, South and Central America, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indonesian Islands and northeastern Australia. As of 2006, several cases had also been documented in the southern portion of the United States, including the states of Texas and Florida. Sporadic cases of Dengue Fever, which are known to have been contracted outside of the United States by travelers visiting a country where the disease has been more common, increased between the years 2002 and 2006 as well.

Identification

Dengue Fever is a flavivirus, related to others of its type like the West Nile Virus and Yellow Fever--all of which are transmitted through the bite of an infected insect. While Dengue Fever can cause severe sickness, it rarely causes death.

As the name Dengue Fever suggests, one of the first known symptoms of the illness is a sudden, high temperature. It is not uncommon for infected individuals to exhibit a fever as high as 104 to 105 F. Other symptoms include a bright red rash that normally begins on the legs and chest and may spread to cover the rest of the body. While nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea may also occur as the illness progresses, it is common for the symptoms to be mild, and comparable to those of the common flu.

For a clinical diagnosis to be made, a blood test should reveal a lower-than-normal platelet count.

Dengue Fever normally lasts for about 6 to 7 days, and the general prognosis for recovery is considered very good.

Misconceptions

A separate disease known as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is often confused with Dengue Fever. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is also a flavivirus. It is indigenous to the same regions as Dengue Fever, but it is much more serious. Dengue Henorrhagic Fever results in serious blood loss. Symptoms include high fever, weakness, excessive bruising, bladder problems, constant headache and a very low platelet and white-blood-cell count. Even with treatment, this virus may lead to death. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever occurs much less commonly than Dengue Fever, and at this time the disease is not prone to outbreak in epidemic proportions.

Considerations

While there is currently no cure for Dengue Fever, steps to control the mosquito population in infected areas can help prevent the spread of the virus. Travelers who visit countries that are currently experiencing outbreaks of Dengue Fever should take these precautions to protect themselves against infection:

1. Carry and use insect repellent at all times.
2. Use mosquito netting, if possible.
3. Stay indoors as much as possible.
4. Avoid traveling at times when the mosquito population is at its peak.
5. Avoid any areas where standing water is/may be present