What Is Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever?
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe form of dengue fever, a disease transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue fever, also called breakbone fever, is found in tropical areas of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 500,000 people are hospitalized annually with dengue hemorrhagic fever worldwide. Up to 2.5% of those diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever will die as a result of the infection.
Features
Dengue fever infections are caused by any one of four closely related viruses. These viruses are transmitted solely through blood, therefore dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever can only be contracted from a mosquito carrying the viruses or by contact of the blood with an actively ill person. A small number of cases of dengue fever, approximately 100 to 200, are brought into the U.S. by actively ill individuals each year, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Identification
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is identified when the clinical symptoms of dengue fever are present along with several other clinical and lab criteria. Individuals with dengue hemorrhagic fever have abnormal blood work which includes an elevated hematocrit level, a low platelet count and clinical evidence of spontaneous bruising or bleeding.
Effects
The symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever are initially identical to the symptoms of dengue fever: headache, joint pain, high fever, nausea, vomiting, backache and a rash on the lower limbs or chest. In dengue fever these symptoms last from six to seven days, but with the hemorrhagic form the symptoms worsen and the fever continues to climb higher. Individuals with hemorrhagic fever develop bleeding of the mucus membranes, bruise easily, have a constant headache and lose their appetite.
Geography
Tropical areas which are home to the Aedes aegypti mosquito are impacted by dengue fever. This mosquito feeds during the day and is very active in the urban areas of the tropics. Tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Central and South America are most prone to dengue fever, and therefore dengue hemorrhagic fever, outbreaks.
Prevention/Solution
Currently there is no cure or vaccination available for dengue fever. In mild cases of the fever the illness is allowed to run its course and home care is sufficient. Dengue hemorrhagic fever, however, nearly always requires hospitalization to treat the high fever and loss of fluids that develops. Dengue fever can only be prevented by avoiding contact with mosquitoes in tropical regions where the dengue virus is present.
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