Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is an acute mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the dengue virus, a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus. The virus has four distinct serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4), each capable of producing a range of clinical manifestations in humans. Infection can lead to a spectrum of diseases, from mild dengue fever to severe forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Symptoms of dengue fever typically begin 4-10 days after the infective bite and may include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding manifestations. The severe forms, DHF and DSS, can be life-threatening and are characterized by plasma leakage, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, and organ impairment. Management of dengue involves supportive care with pain relievers, rehydration therapy, and careful monitoring for complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment, and prevention relies heavily on mosquito control measures and public health interventions. Dengue vaccines are in development, with some already approved in certain countries, but their use is limited by various factors including the complexity of the disease immune response.