Dengue Fever

Dengue is an infection transmitted by mosquito bites, caused by a virus of the Flavivirus family. While it has previously been common in the tropics and southeast Asia it is now being found in the western hemisphere. There are four different viruses in the family, and infection with one does not provide immunity to the others, so people (and it is estimated that there are between 40 and 80 million cases per year) can be affected more than once. While some cases may be asymptomatic, there may be a rash associated with severe bone pain and muscle ache, which may progress to a condition involving bleeding and shock (called dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome) - a scenario more likely the more often the patient has been infected. There is no treatment for dengue apart from supportive measures should there be the development of shock, when symptoms should resolve within 24-48 hours. Prevention is by preventing mosquito bites, which may not be possible. There is at present no vaccine available. Eradicating the mosquitoes might help.
 
 
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