Basics of Dengue

http://www.afrims.org/images/dengue-protect.jpg

"Dengue is a disease caused by any one of four closely related virus (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, DEN-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virusc circulates in the blood leading ot fecer. Infection with one strain does not provide cross protection against another strain.

"Dengue fecer symptoms appear within 5-6 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito,and last for 1 to 2 weeks, including:

the sudden onset of a high fecer, up to 39 degrees Celsius

• Severe headache.
• Retro-orbital (behind the eye) pain.
• Severe joint and muscle pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Rash appearing on the arms or legs 3 to 4 days after fever begins.
• Abnormal bleeding and very low blood pressure(shock) may occur in severe cases.

"Blood test: PCR for Dengue. Dengue lgG and lgM. The PCR based method is more effective in the first few days of infection.

"If you get Dengue fever: Visit your physician, Rest, Drink plenty of water, and take medicine ot reduce your fever, but avoid Aspirin."

Kristen C. left me a comment earlier asking why aspirin is so harmful to a person . Apparently aspirin is an anticoagulant, meaning that it thins the blood. An anitcoagulant is not necessarily bad since it prevents blood clots, but in this case it doesn't help people with dengue fever to recover. The fever is hemorrhagic, which means the victim loses blood. Blood thickens when a person is bleeding, and aspirin prevents thickening. To minimize blood loss, and to stop bleeding as soon as possible, aspirin should definitely be avoided.

Plus, children should never take aspirin in any circumstance since they run the risk of getting what is known as Reye Syndrome, which is a life threatening disease that usually occurs after a viral illness. It is believed that people who have taken aspirin or pills likewise are more susceptible to this disease.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_n3_v45/ai_12026528/pg_4

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/reye.html