Dengue fever is one of the famous mosquito-borne human viral disease globally that is a public health emergency. This virus is transmitted through a bite from a female mosquito with the virus predominantly mosquitoes from the Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus species. It has become widespread reaching hyper-endemic magnitudes in urban and semi-urban tropics, and the dengue virus causes Dengue Fever. This condition affects infants, children, and even adults meaning nearly half of the population is at risk of this condition. Moreover, Several people are suffering from it always recover without any further issues because the fatality rate is less than 1 %. However, those patients who develop low blood pressure and hemorrhage may end up dying. Today, the dengue virus has become a significant public health threat compared to the past (Guzman et al., 2010). Approximately 2.6 billion of people are at risk of being infected with this virus worldwide. The outbreak of this disease has become common in different countries making it an international concern.
Dengue is a growing health concern in most countries. This disease was first recorded in a Chinese encyclopedia and was associated with flying insects. Its origin is unclear, but dengue is said to have originated from the Asian forests after an involvement of primates and mosquitoes. The recorded reports of dengue were present in Africa, Manila, Asia, and North America. Afterward, further dengue epidemics have been registered in more than 110 countries. Today, the dengue virus affects about 2.5 billion people of the world’s population (World Health Organization, 2009). Initially, the dengue fever was not considered as a serious illness. However, today, it is ranked as the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. It is reported to be endemic in some countries in Africa, Asia, America, Taiwan, Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. Those affected in the US are those on transit or at the Mexico-Texas border. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, 50- 100 million people are reported to be infected with the virus yearly, including about 24,000 deaths and this mostly affects children. According to Bhatt et al., the rates of the dengue illness has increased 30 fold from the year 1960 to the year 2010 (2013). The growth is blamed on the tremendous population growth, urbanization, and global warming.
The prevalence of this virus has increased dramatically over the years all over the world. Nonetheless, the actual incidences of the dengue fever are underreported thus making the cases misclassified. According to Bhatt et al., it is estimated that there are about 390 million dengue cases reported every year (2013). About 50 million people are infected with the dengue virus in the world today. Most countries have not reported it for several years since its history is unknown to many. However, it is apparent that many people are at risk of being infected with this virus and it is among the leading causes of childhood mortality in South American and Asian countries. Therefore, dengue has become an immediate health issue in South and Central America as well as in the South and Southeast Asia where many outbreaks are reported.
The dengue fever has always been looked as a childhood condition. Despite this, the disease has increased in adults, including the aged. Several studies have indicated through their reports that the dengue virus has been on the rise among adults (World Health Organization, 2000). Moreover, many doctors have trouble diagnosing the disease. This could be because some of its symptoms vary extensively. Some patients show some given signs and symptoms while other do not exhibit any signs/symptoms of the illness.
Primary symptoms of dengue fever show from three to fifteen days after an individual has been bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus. The symptoms include severe headache, high fever, and severe pain behind the eyes, especially when one tries to move the eyes. Other related symptoms are bone, joint, and muscle pain accompanied with some bleeding. Patients suffering from this fever exhibit hematological manifestations, for instance, thrombocytopenia and increased bleeding, very high fever, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulties, abdominal pains, and serious bleeding (Gubler, 2002). Furthermore, the virus can cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild to acute fever, which rarely cause death. Other signs of the virus include the decrease of the white blood cells in the body, skin, gums, as well as nose bleeding. Therefore, it is vital to seek a clinical diagnosis in case of any of the above symptoms in order to increase chances survival because the condition can be lethal.
The dengue fever can be diagnosed by blood test which helps check for the presence of the virus in the body. Therefore, it is important to have blood checks when the signs are felt especially after traveling to or from a tropical area. When the tests are done, they allow the doctors to evaluate the possibility of an outbreak of the virus in the given area.
There is no specific treatment or vaccine used in the treatment of the disease. This is because the fever is spread or rather caused by a virus and there are no vaccines for the disease. In addition, antibiotics cannot be used to treat the condition. Therefore, since there is no known cure for it, it is vital to watch out for the symptoms since its complications can be lethal and could lead to a case of severe dengue. However, physicians can save the lives of dengue fever patients because the virus seldom causes death. Most patients suffering from the dengue fever recover within two weeks after being infected. But, it is important to take pain relievers containing acetaminophen and avoid aspirins, which can worsen bleeding in the cases of hemorrhage dengue.
Dengue can be cured naturally with pawpaw juice and plenty of fluids. In addition, people suffering from dengue are encouraged to take enough rest and use medicines that help reduce high fever. Patients are also encouraged only to take non-aspirin medications that contribute to reducing the high temperature. When the body’s fluid volume is properly controlled, patients with dengue fever get healed and are saved from suffering from severe dengue (Gubler, 2002). Therefore, it is necessary for patients with dengue to maintain the recommended body fluid volumes. Patients with this virus require constant monitoring for the vital signs to avoid more damage.
Even though there is no vaccine for this disease, there are ways to prevent it such as ensuring there are no more mosquito bites from infected female mosquitoes. Apart from prevention, there is significant development being made to develop its vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, there are three tetravalent live-attenuated vaccines under progress in phase 2 and 3 in a clinical trial to help protect people against dengue (2000). Therefore, the World Health Organization is encouraging most countries to support the research on the vaccines and dengue treatment.
The control and prevention of dengue solely depend on the efficient vector control actions. The transmission of dengue can be prevented by combating mosquitoes causing the condition. This can be achieved through prevention of multiplication of mosquitoes by ensuring that all water storage vessels are always covered. In addition, the vector mosquitoes can be combated by proper disposal of waste in a proper manner. Moreover, people traveling to dengue-prone areas should be encouraged to wear clothes that cover their whole body. They could also be encouraged to apply mosquito repellants containing DEET.
The response from the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the management and prevention of dengue is in several ways. First, they do all they can to support several countries whenever there is an outbreak of the dengue fever. In addition, they provide technical support to those countries by training them on how to effectively manage dengue outbreaks. Thirdly, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease provides the required training and clinical management in the diagnosis, control, and management of patients with the dengue fever. In order to achieve the 2020 healthy people goals, the NIH is formulating evidence and strategies to improve and develop new tools to fight the dengue virus. They have also worked on printing pamphlets and handbooks giving information about the virus, such as, how it is spread, and its prevention. They will then be handed to the public. Apart from publishing helpful materials on the condition, the CDC help gathers records and information on the dengue disease from several member states to ensure when there is an outbreak of the virus; it is correctly handled. With all this in place, they will be able to combat the virus.
In conclusion, dengue is a debilitating mosquito-borne viral condition that affects infants, children, and adults. It is a viral infection that is transmitted by female mosquitoes known as Aedes. Currently, there is no known cure nor vaccine for the dengue virus that is why it is globally spread. The dengue virus is ubiquitous in the urban and semi-urban tropics and can be influenced by the rainfall, and low temperatures. The symptoms of dengue include severe headaches, bleeding, vomiting, joints, bones, and muscle pain, and lastly rashes. Most patients with the dengue virus recover so quickly unless they are infected with severe dengue. There is no available cure for dengue, but it can be managed properly if diagnosed.
The World Health Organization confirmed that the dengue virus has become an issue of international public health priority. Therefore, the disease should be given serious research attentions to come up with the best diagnosis, prevention, and management strategies. Without a proper understanding of this public health issue, it will be difficult to find the accurate data, treatments, and vaccines for the dengue fever. Therefore, with proper knowledge, it will be easier to detect the condition in the early stages and manage it for the survival of the victims. Many of the countries facing dengue outbreak are poor. Therefore, with suitable population-based epidemiology and clear objectives, it will be easier to deal with any outbreaks of the dengue virus. The dengue virus has become a worldwide health problem that should be addressed.
References
Bhatt S. Gething, P. W., Brady, O. J., Messina, J. P., Farlow, A. W., Moyes, C. L., & Myers, M. F. (2013). The Global Distribution and Burden of Dengue. Nature, 496 (7446), 504-507.
Gubler, D. J. (2002). Epidemic Dengue/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever as a Public Health, Social and Economic Problem in the 21st Century. Trends Microbial, 10, 100-3.
World Health Organization (2000). Dengue/Dengue Haemorrhagic fever. Weekly Epidemiology Rec. 75, 193-196.
Guzman, M. G., Halstead, S. B., Artsob, H., Buchy, P., Farrar, J., Gubler, D. J., & Nathan, M. B. (2010). Dengue: a continuing global threat. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 8, S7-S16.
World Health Organization. (2009). Dengue: Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Control. Geneva: World Health Organization and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.
