Dengue- August '08

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Here are some general facts about Dengue. Thought this might be helpful.

Question: What most one should do with dengue fever?
Answer: Take paracetamol (never aspirin) and take frequent orsaline. Drink a lot. Take record of body temperature every 6 hours and notice when it becomes normal.

Question: How & when can one start suspecting dengue fever?
Answer: First, the temperature will rise straight to 103-105°F and never fall below 103° for at least 2 days. This range of temperature will continue for 2-7 days.

Question: What are the symptomatic differences between a classical dengue fever and a haemorrhagic dengue fever?
Answer: Classical fever will not necessarily show the symptoms of haemorrhagic fever. Clearly visible symptoms for haemorrhagic fever are inter alia:
1. Red coloured rash on the skin surface. It can be anywhere in the body and appears from day 3 onwards. Check carefully all hidden and exposed parts of the body.
2. Blood will flow from tooth gum while washing mouth or even without. Blood clotting may be seen on the eyes white surface. Notice them carefully.
3. Regular stool colour will become blackish thus confirming bleeding. Watch carefully the colour

Question: When starts the critical/danger period for a person with dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Answer: 48-72 hours from the moment body temperature becomes normal (no fever).
It's important to record in a piece of paper and monitor temperature quite often, perhaps every 3 hours from the beginning. The period is called critical or dangerous since the rate of fall of blood platelets within 72 hours is still very much unpredictable and death occurs at this stage

Question: What are the main pathological tests to confirm dengue virus?
Answer: Elisa/Antibody test (IgG and IgM) and Platelet Counts (PC). Normal range of PC is 150.000 - 500.000.

Here is another treatment

What is the treatment?
Dengue fever, like other arbovirus infections, must run its course. Treatment is focused on medications to lower fever and reduce pain, fluids to prevent dehydration, and bed rest. Blood transfusions are given in cases of severe blood loss, and oxygen must be given to patients with dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Almost all patients with dengue fever have a complete recovery. Those with DSS have a good prognosis if they receive immediate medical treatment.

http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/d/denguefever.htm

When is the Dengue season in Indonesia?

Dengue fever is a relatively common problem in Indonesia and periodically reaches epidemic proportions in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia, usually every 4-5 years. Rarely fatal in fit adults, the patient is often left debilitated and requires considerable time for convalescence. Dengue Fever is most common during the rainy season (November - May) as the mosquito requires clean standing water to reproduce.

Dengue occurs due to infection by a flavivirus which is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. (Unlike malaria, this disease occurs in greater Jakarta - urban dengue occurs in nearly all tropical countries).

http://www.expat.or.id/medical/dengue.html