mosquito-borne disease
Dengue vs. Severe Dengue: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
Although the symptoms of mosquito-borne dengue fever are similar to those of the flu, the disease can be fatal. From the beginning of the monsoon season, dengue fever patients flock to hospitals and doctors with various symptoms. However, symptoms may include high fever from the first day, severe headache, pain in the eyes, body aches, reddening of the skin, and in some cases, rashes on the skin.
It should be remembered that the fever at this time does not mean only dengue. Other fevers with nearby symptoms are also appearing. In addition to other viral fevers, waterborne typhoid fever is also occurring. Therefore, in case of fever, it is better to take the treatment after confirming the symptoms and, if necessary, examination. With that note, let's know the causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention of dengue.
Read Dengue spike: 123 more patients admitted to hospital in 24 hrs
Dengue vs. Severe Dengue
We should not be sure without any test. But, if a high fever of 40°C or 104°F is accompanied with any 2 of the following symptoms should be suspected as dengue.
- pain behind the eyes
- nausea
- severe headache
- muscle and joint pains
- swollen glands
- vomiting
- rash.
A patient enters the critical phase, usually after 3-7 days after the illness started. During this phase, the fever may drop below 38°C or 100°F. But the potentially fatal complications may start due to respiratory distress, plasma leaking, severe bleeding, or organ impairment, and fluid accumulation. All these can lead to severe dengue. The symptoms may include-
Read Dengue update: 105 more cases reported
- persistent vomiting
- restlessness
- severe abdominal pain
- blood in vomit
- bleeding gums
- rapid breathing
- fatigue
If these symptoms appear, the patient might have a chance to fall into a critical phase. Hence, a close observation becomes obvious for the next 24-28 hours. Furthermore, proper medical care is needed to avoid any complications and risk of death.
Read: Dengue: 25 cases in 24 hours
What Causes Dengue Fever?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease spread by Aedes mosquito bites. The mosquito became infected with one of the four viruses closely related to the DENV virus, causing dengue fever. Aedes mosquitoes can be carriers of any one of the four viruses, and as a result, individuals can be infected by that particular virus. The Aedes mosquito can breed in stagnant water inside or outside the house and cannot fly more than 200 meters from its birthplace. However, these mosquitoes do not breed in ponds, ditches, and other reservoirs. This species of mosquito is more active in the morning and in the afternoon after sunset.
How Does the Aedes Mosquito Spread Dengue?
When an infected Aedes mosquito bites a healthy person, the mosquito transmits the dengue virus (one in four viruses) to that person. As a result, when an uninfected mosquito bites the person, the mosquito becomes a carrier of the dengue virus. Thus, it becomes a part of the process of spreading the disease.
The infected mosquito then bites another healthy person, and the disease spreads. A person who has once been infected with dengue can be infected with any one of the four viruses. However, a person who has already been infected with a particular virus cannot be re-infected with that particular virus. However, the symptoms of second-time infection are more severe than the first-time infection.
Read Amid Covid pandemic dengue could worsen: DGHS
According to research, 40 percent of the world's population or 3 billion people live in places where dengue is most likely to be transmitted. Symptoms of dengue fever usually appear 4 to 7 days after a mosquito bite and last for 3 to 7 days. Although dengue fever is a highly contagious disease, it can be easily cured if the symptoms are detected at an early stage.
Therefore, it is very important to know the symptoms of this disease in order to get timely treatment to avoid complications like heart, lung, or liver damage. Also, in some cases, dengue can cause blood pressure to drop drastically, which can lead to injury and even death.
143 more dengue cases reported in 24 hrs
Health authorities reported 143 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid a spike in the mosquito-borne disease.
Bangladesh has been seeing over 100 dengue patients for the last four days adding worries to the country’s health services, already overburdened with growing Covid cases and fatalities.
Read: Dengue spike: 123 more patients admitted to hospital in 24 hrs
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 509 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital, while just nine patients were listed outside Dhaka.
Some 1,945 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January - 1,433 of them have been released after recovery.
DGHS spokesman and line director Dr. Nazmul Islam suggested testing for dengue as well as corona if someone has high temperature.
He also asked to take medicine on the advice of a registered doctor only in case of treatment. If necessary, one could take treatment by contacting the hotline number of DGHS.
The DGHS reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Read:Dengue update: 105 more cases reported
Official figures state 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the years that followed, the country learned to deal with the disease much better, but it did become endemic. Fatalities almost fell to zero at one stage, before spiking again in 2018, leading to the horrific crisis the following year.
13 dengue cases recorded in 24 hrs
Bangladesh is seeing a gradual rise in dengue cases with the health authorities confirming 13 new cases in 24 hours until Thursday morning.
29 new dengue cases reported in 24 hr
The health authorities recorded 29 new dengue cases in 24 hours until Saturday morning.
20 more dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
With the increase in the number of dengue patients, Bangladesh on Tuesday reported 20 new cases in the last 24 hours across the country.
Dengue cases spike in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is recording an increasing number of dengue cases over the past weeks with 21 patients hospitalised in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning.
9 more dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
With the rise in the number of dengue cases, nine more cases were reported in the past 24 hours until Wednesday morning, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh records 1 new dengue case
The health authorities announced detection of one new dengue case in the last 24 hours until Thursday morning.
5 new dengue cases reported in 24 hours
Five new dengue cases were detected in the last 24 hours until Tuesday morning, the health authorities said.
DNCC drive finds Aedes larvae in 75 establishments
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Monday found Aedes mosquito larvae in 75 houses and establishments on the third day of its combing operation to prevent dengue outbreak.