There is no vaccine available against dengue, and there are no specific medications to treat a dengue infection.
The best way to reduce mosquitoes is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, like artificial containers that hold water in and around the home. Outdoors, clean water containers like pet and animal watering containers, flower planter dishes or cover water storage barrels. Look for standing water indoors such as in vases with fresh flowers and clean at least once a week.
The adult mosquitoes like to bite inside as well as around homes, during the day and at night when the lights are on. To protect yourself, use repellent on your skin while indoors or out. When possible, wear long sleeves and pants for additional protection. Also, make sure window and door screens are secure and without holes. If available, use air-conditioning.
If someone in your house is ill with dengue, take extra precautions to prevent mosquitoes from biting the patient and going on to bite others in the household. Sleep under a mosquito bed net, eliminate mosquitoes you find indoors and wear repellent.
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/prevention/index.html]
Monday, 2 November 2009
Symptoms of Dengue Virus
1) High fever and at least 2 of the following
a) Severe headache
b) Severe eye pain (behind eyes)
c) Joint pain
d) Muscle and/or bone pain
e) Rash
f) Mild bleeding manifestation (e.g., nose or gum bleed, petechiae, or easy bruising)
g) Low white cell count
For younger children and those with their first dengue infection will have a milder illness than older children and adults.
Warning signs as temperature declines 3 to 7 days after symptoms appear:
a) Severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting
b) Red spots or patches on the skin
c) Bleeding from nose or gums
d) Vomiting blood
e) Black, tarry stools (feces, excrement)
f) Drowsiness or irritability
g) Pale, cold, or clammy skin
h) Difficulty breathing
Go IMMEDIATELY to an emergency room or the closest health care provider
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is characterized by a fever that lasts from 2 to 7 days, with general signs and symptoms consistent with dengue fever. When the fever declines, warning signs may develop. This marks the beginning of a 24 to 48 hour period when the smallest blood vessels become excessively permeable, allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels into the peritoneum and pleural cavity. This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, and possibly death without prompt, appropriate treatment. In addition, the patient with DHF has a low platelet count and hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or have other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding.
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/symptoms/index.html ]
a) Severe headache
b) Severe eye pain (behind eyes)
c) Joint pain
d) Muscle and/or bone pain
e) Rash
f) Mild bleeding manifestation (e.g., nose or gum bleed, petechiae, or easy bruising)
g) Low white cell count
For younger children and those with their first dengue infection will have a milder illness than older children and adults.
Warning signs as temperature declines 3 to 7 days after symptoms appear:
a) Severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting
b) Red spots or patches on the skin
c) Bleeding from nose or gums
d) Vomiting blood
e) Black, tarry stools (feces, excrement)
f) Drowsiness or irritability
g) Pale, cold, or clammy skin
h) Difficulty breathing
Go IMMEDIATELY to an emergency room or the closest health care provider
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is characterized by a fever that lasts from 2 to 7 days, with general signs and symptoms consistent with dengue fever. When the fever declines, warning signs may develop. This marks the beginning of a 24 to 48 hour period when the smallest blood vessels become excessively permeable, allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels into the peritoneum and pleural cavity. This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, and possibly death without prompt, appropriate treatment. In addition, the patient with DHF has a low platelet count and hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or have other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding.
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/symptoms/index.html ]
Dengue Virus Vector
Aedes aegypti, the principal mosquito vector of dengue viruses is an insect species closely associated with humans and their dwellings.
Aedes albopictus
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/entomologyEcology/index.html]
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/entomologyEcology/m_lifecycle.html]
Aedes aegypti
(Image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Aedes_aegypti_during_blood_meal.jpg )
It is very difficult to control or eliminate Ae. aegypti mosquitoes because they have adaptations to the environment that make them highly resilient, or with the ability to rapidly bounce back to initial numbers after disturbances resulting from natural phenomena (e.g., droughts) or human interventions (e.g., control measures). One such adaptation is the ability of the eggs to withstand desiccation (drying) and to survive without water for several months on the inner walls of containers. For example, if we were to eliminate all larvae, pupae, and adult Ae. aegypti at once from a site, its population could recover two weeks later as a result of egg hatching following rainfall or the addition of water to containers harboring eggs.
It is likely that Ae.aegypti is continually responding or adapting to environmental change. It is expected that control interventions will change the spatial and temporal dispersal of Ae. aegypti and perhaps the pattern of habitat utilization.
Aedes albopictus 
There is a very important adaptation of Ae. aegypti and other dengue vectors that makes controlling their populations a difficult task. Their eggs can withstand desiccation for several months, which means that even if all larvae, pupae, and adults were eliminated at some point in time, repopulation will occur as soon as the eggs in the containers are flooded with water. Unfortunately, there is no effective way to control the eggs in containers.
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/entomologyEcology/index.html]
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/entomologyEcology/m_lifecycle.html]
Dengue Virus
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3—14 days after the infective bite. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults.
Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. It is important to maintain hydration. Use of acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen) is not recommended.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase survival of patients.
Dengue has emerged as a worldwide problem only since the 1950s. Although dengue no longer occurs in the continental United States, it is endemic in Puerto Rico, Samoa and Guam, and occurs in many popular tourist destinations in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
[Link: http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/]
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/]
Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. It is important to maintain hydration. Use of acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen) is not recommended.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase survival of patients.
Dengue has emerged as a worldwide problem only since the 1950s. Although dengue no longer occurs in the continental United States, it is endemic in Puerto Rico, Samoa and Guam, and occurs in many popular tourist destinations in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
[Link: http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/]
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/]
Preventions of H1N1 virus
Precautions advised to take
a) Get vaccinated
b) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after used.
c) Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
d) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
e) Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
f) Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100oF or 37.8oC) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®)
g) Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Diagnosed with H1N1
a) Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention.
b) Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
c) Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.
d) Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
e) Get plenty of rest.
f) Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.
g) Cover coughs and sneezes.
h) Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
Tending H1N1 Flu patients
a) Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person. When holding a small child who is sick, place his/her chin on your shoulder so that he/she will not cough in your face.
b) Make sure everyone in the household cleans their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
c) Remind the patient to cover coughs, and clean his/her hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.
d) Speak with the person’s health care provider about any special care that might be needed, especially if the person is pregnant or has a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.
e) Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®), to prevent getting the flu.
f) Ask the patient’s health care provider whether the patient should take antiviral medications.
g) Consider wearing a facemask or respirator, when close contact is unavoidable.
h) Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if symptoms occur.
i) Get medical care right away if the patient exhibits emergency warning signs.
[Link: http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/about/h1n1/index.html]
a) Get vaccinated
b) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after used.
c) Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
d) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
e) Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
f) Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100oF or 37.8oC) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®)
g) Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Diagnosed with H1N1
a) Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention.
b) Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
c) Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.
d) Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
e) Get plenty of rest.
f) Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.
g) Cover coughs and sneezes.
h) Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
Tending H1N1 Flu patients
a) Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person. When holding a small child who is sick, place his/her chin on your shoulder so that he/she will not cough in your face.
b) Make sure everyone in the household cleans their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
c) Remind the patient to cover coughs, and clean his/her hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.
d) Speak with the person’s health care provider about any special care that might be needed, especially if the person is pregnant or has a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.
e) Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®), to prevent getting the flu.
f) Ask the patient’s health care provider whether the patient should take antiviral medications.
g) Consider wearing a facemask or respirator, when close contact is unavoidable.
h) Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if symptoms occur.
i) Get medical care right away if the patient exhibits emergency warning signs.
[Link: http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/about/h1n1/index.html]
Symptoms of H1N1 flu
Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.Symptom of H1N1 virus
a) Fever
b) Coughing and/or sore throat
c) Runny or stuffy nose
(Image from: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/images/B00528_H1N1_flu_blue_sml.jpg)
d) Headache and/or body aches
e) Chills
f) Fatigue
g) Vomiting
h) Diarrhea
Emergency warning signs in children and adults
Children
a) Fast breathing or trouble breathing
b) Bluish or gray skin colour
c) Not drinking enough fluids
d) Severe or persistent vomiting
e) Not waking up or not interacting
f) Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
g) Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough worsens
Adults
a) Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
b) Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
c) Sudden dizziness
d) Confusion
e) Severe or persistent vomiting
f) Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough worsens
H1N1 (Influenza virus)
a) H1N1 flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia, plus avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.
b) H1N1 flu is contagious. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. The virus is spreading from person-to-person, in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
c) H1N1 flu is NOT caused by eating pork or pork products. H1N1 flu is not a foodborne disease, it is a respiratory disease. All meat and poultry products have to be properly prepared and cooked before consuming them.
d) Illness with the new H1N1 flu virus has ranged from mild to severe. (While the vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 flu have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths have occurred.)
e) About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with H1N1 flu have had one or more medical conditions that placed them in the “high risk” category for serious seasonal flu-related complications. These include pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.
f) Unlike the seasonal flu virus, adults older than 64 do not yet appear to be at increased risk of H1N1 flu-related complications. CDC laboratory studies have shown that about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much protection may be afforded against H1N1 flu by an existing antibody.
[Link: http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/about/h1n1/index.html]
Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.
[Link: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm]
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