Spotlight Articles
By Dr.  Panovka
Dengue, or “breakbone fever,” has been recognized for over 200 years. Dengue fever is the most prevalent mosquito borne viral disease in the world, causing an estimated 50 million infections and 25,000 deaths annually, with at least 2.5 billion persons at risk for transmission. A growing number of countries have recently experienced severe dengue epidemics, and this disease is becoming a serious public health problem and a leading cause of hospitalization Significant outbreaks of dengue have been reported in 2005 and 2006 in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Curacao, Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Factors believed to be responsible for dengue’s spread include population growth, inadequate public health systems, poor standing water and vector control, climate change and increased international travel to endemic areas. Humans are infected with dengue virus by the bite of infective Aedes mosquitoes. The most important vector is Aedes aegypti, which prefers to feed on humans during daylight hours. The incubation time is 3-14 days, most often 4-7 days. Following incubation, a 5 to 7-day acute febrile illness ensues with 2 or more of the following:
Recovery is usually complete by 7-10 days. Dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome usually develops around the third to seventh day of illness. Note: Treatment is supportive only. Patients should have their platelet count and hematocrit measured daily and may need intravascular volume deficits replaced. |
