Transmission:
Mosquito bite, usually during the day, especially two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. Many cases occur in crowded urban areas.
Risk:
Primarily acquired in Latin America, the Caribbean, Mexico and SE Asia, Africa
Symptoms and Signs:
75% of infections are thought to be asymptomatic. Symptomatic dengue produces a biphasic illness with sudden onset of severe headache, high fever and joint and muscle pain, followed after 3 to 5 days by a transient rash and defervescence. Then, fever returns, accompanied by a more extensive rash. The mortality rate is near zero and the disease resolves in the second week, but convalescence may be prolonged.
Severe dengue, with or without dengue shock syndrome, also begins after defervescence in the “critical” phase of illness with renewed fever and headache. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are prominent, thrombocytopenia, bleeding, plasma leakage and hemoconcentration are characteristic and hypotension (shock) and jaundice can occur. The mortality rate without treatment is 10% or higher, but with supportive treatment is less than 1%.
Prevention
Mosquito bites avoidance.
Additional Information
CDC Health Information for International Travel 2020, Dengue Fever, p. 197-204.
Comments