Typhoon "Nida" has brought strong rainfall. In this season of high temperature and humidity, a ghost that visits regularly every year has also come again, that is, dengue fever.
Dengue fever is widely present in tropical areas. Guangdong Province, due to its well-developed water network, dense population, and hot and humid weather, has become one of the areas with the most dengue fever cases in the world. Media reports have recently come into contact with suspected or confirmed cases of dengue fever, which deserves the attention of the public and all medical staff. This popular science article will tell you how to prevent dengue fever?
Dengue fever is an arthropod-borne viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes (commonly known as spotted mosquitoes), and patients and asymptomatic carriers are the sources of dengue virus transmission. Dengue fever, which requires Aedes mosquitoes as a vector, is more prevalent from May to November each year, especially from July to September.
The dengue virus has four different types, and there is no significant cross-resistance between the four types. Different types of dengue viruses prevail in different years, so dengue fever often has the characteristic of erupting in epidemics every few years, and severe cases are common during the outbreak period.
The last outbreak of dengue fever in Guangzhou was in 2014, with more than 35,000 confirmed cases reported. It was finally brought under control through the unremitting efforts of the infection control department.
After being bitten by Aedes mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus, the average incubation period is 4-7 days, not exceeding 14 days. The main symptoms include fever, headache, eye pain, and muscle and joint pain.
The duration of fever is mostly 5-7 days, and a few cases can have a second rise in body temperature after the first fever subsides, lasting 1-2 days.
In adults, dengue fever often causes significant fatigue and loss of appetite, and even repeated nausea and vomiting. One-third of the cases will have symptoms similar to the common cold, such as sore throat, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea, which can easily lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.
Dengue fever and influenza have similar symptoms, but the pain caused by dengue fever is often more severe, hence dengue fever is also known as Break-bone fever.
In addition to the above symptoms, an important clinical manifestation of dengue fever, and potentially life-threatening, is the appearance of bleeding symptoms in the infected, which is also known as "dengue hemorrhagic fever."
This bleeding symptom is mainly related to the reduction of platelets and increased vascular fragility in dengue patients. 20%-50% of dengue cases will have a reduction in platelets, and cases with severe reduction (below 20×10^9/L) can have petechiae or ecchymosis all over the body, and in very few cases, it can lead to fatal internal bleeding.
In addition, elevated transaminases are also common, which to some extent causes discomfort such as poor appetite and vomiting in patients.
Dengue fever can be diagnosed through typical medical history, symptoms, laboratory tests, and rapid dengue antibody IgM detection (currently Distinct Health can also perform dengue antibody tests).
Due to the high incidence of dengue fever in Guangdong, especially in Guangzhou, if fever lasts for more than 3 days, it is recommended to perform a blood routine examination to screen for cases with reduced platelets. All cases with reduced platelets need further dengue antibody IgM testing to rule out dengue fever infection.
So far, there is no specific antiviral drug for the dengue virus. Fortunately, even in years of epidemic outbreaks, most cases of dengue fever are mild or asymptomatic infections, characterized by short-lasting fever, mild elevation of transaminases, and reduced platelets but mostly above 50×10^9/L.
For these patients, the first step is to isolate at home. Good mosquito prevention measures should be taken within the household to avoid further spread of the virus. Fever and pain symptoms can be relieved with acetaminophen (other antipyretics are not recommended for dengue fever, as they may worsen bleeding symptoms), replenish water and salt, and most mild infections will completely relieve symptoms within 5-7 days.
Hospitalization for observation and treatment is recommended in the following cases:
The first tetravalent dengue vaccine is already on the market in Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines, and some countries are in the process of review. Before it enters the domestic market, the best prevention of dengue fever lies in preventing Aedes bites. For mosquito prevention, you can refer to the popular science article by Distinct Health "Summer's Six Major Mosquito Prevention Strategies". Summer's Six Major Mosquito Prevention Strategies .
In addition, cleaning up the water inside the home to avoid mosquito breeding is also very important.
At present, it is the high-incidence season for dengue fever. As long as it is given high importance and personal protection is paid attention to, it can be well controlled. It needs to be emphasized that if fever persists for more than 3 days, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time and have a blood routine examination for early screening.
References:
1. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of dengue virus infection.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-dengue-virus-infection
2. Prevention and treatment of dengue virus infection.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prevention-and-treatment-of-dengue-virus-infection
3. Knowledge of dengue fever prevention and control. National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China.
http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/jkj/s3578/201409/0f1993fc8ce84f73bc2782c87185ec18.shtml
Disclaimer:
This article has been reviewed by the Distinct Health Medical Advisory Board. The purpose of the article is to provide general health information and cannot replace any individual's medical diagnosis and treatment. Personal medical issues need to be discussed and consulted with a doctor. For any suggestions on this popular science article, you can email: medicine@distinctclinic.com
