What is dengue fever?
Dengue is a viral infection that is transmitted by the bite of the female mosquito called Aedes mosquito. It is widespread in the tropical and subtropical areas. The global incidence of dengue has grown rapidly in the recent decades.
What are the types of dengue?
- Dengue Fever
- The Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF)
What are the early symptoms of dengue?
- Severe headache
- Sore eyes
- Joint pain
- Muscle or bone pain
- Body rashes
- Low white blood cell (WBC) count
What are the symptoms of severe dengue?
Go to a doctor IMMEDIATELY if these signs appear:
- Vomiting or severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting blood
- Red patches on the skin
- Bleeding from nose or gums
- Drowsiness
- Pale or cold skin
- Difficulty in breathing
Diagnosis:
The test required to do to diagnose dengue fever are:
Normally a doctor would require you to do the following tests:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) test – This will indicate the total cell count of the person as well as the platelet count
- Antibody test – They are used to help diagnose if any infection is present in the body whether recent or old
Treatment:
There is no specific treatment for dengue. If you have dengue, use painkillers like paracetamol and avoid medicines like aspirin which could cause blood clots. You should take adequate rest, drink lots of fluids and routinely go to the doctor for follow up checkups and tests.
A timely detection of this deadly disease can save lives and help in it’s treatment. If you or anyone you know happen to have these symptoms, do not wait before consulting your doctor. Log on to www.augmentcare.com to consult a medical specialist and get your lab test done immediately.
