D E N G U E

Dengue Hemorrhagic fever is a severe, potentially deadly infection caused by some mosquitos.


CAUSE: Four different dengue viruses are known to cause Dengue Hemorrhagic fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever occurs when a person is bitten by a mosquito that is infected with the virus. The mosquito Aedes Aegyptis is the main species that spreads this disease.


Symptoms : Early symptoms of the disease include

1) Decreased appetite

2) Fever

3) Headache

4) Joint/ Muscle pains

5) General ill feeling

6) Vomiting


Diagnosis : The Dengue fever can be detected by doing a simple blood test.

i) Arterial blood gases.

ii) Blood tests ( to find the signs of virus in the blood)

iii) Coagulation studies

iv) Platelet count


Treatment: Since the fever is caused by a virus for which there is no cure or vaccine, the only treatment is to treat the symptons. These treatments may include

a) transfusion of fresh blood or platelets to correct bleeding problems.

b) Intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes to correct electrolyte imbalances

c) Oxygen therapy to treat abnormally low blood oxygen

d) Rehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids to treat dehydration

e) Supportive care in an intensive care unit or similar setting

C H I K U N G U N I A

1) Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

2) Joint pain is often debilitating and can vary in duration.

3) The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and zika, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where they are common.

4) There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

5) The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya.

6) The disease mostly occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. However a major outbreak in 2015 affected several countries of the Region of the Americas