Though very commonly used, not many people are aware of what is dengue fever or the dengue fever syndrome. Dengue fever is a mosquito transmitted viral infection that affects people mainly in tropical countries. Dengue fever tends to be more common in areas with poor sanitation and with regular rainfall.


This is why it is common for dengue fever to occur in poorer countries. Individuals who travel extensively around the world may also be at risk of contracting dengue fever. The actual virus that causes dengue fever may be different from case to case, but all dengue fever viruses are related to the same strain of the disease.


Risk factors for the contraction of dengue fever include warm humid climates where mosquitoes are present in large populations. There is only one item listed under the causes of dengue fever and that is the individual receiving a bite from an infected mosquito. In that sense, the causes of dengue fever are the same as those for malaria and other insect borne diseases. Therefore methods on how to prevent dengue fever are not very difficult to employ. Some of the methods that individuals may employ to prevent dengue fever are the use of mosquito nets, anti-mosquito sprays and ointments and by promoting sanitation and cleanliness in the neighborhood. The indirect causes of dengue fever include large collections of undisturbed water as this is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

When understanding what dengue fever is, one should make the distinction between the actual fever suffered by an individual and the far more serious condition of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more serious version of the same medical condition. While the virus that infects the individual may be the same, the symptoms are far more serious as they are life threatening. Dengue hemorrhagic fever leads to death because of bleeding that takes place within the body of the individual.

An individual with dengue fever will experience a sudden onset of dengue fever symptoms. Some of the common dengue fever symptoms include sudden fever that is extremely high, headache, muscle pain and severe debilitating joint pains. Fever that affects dengue patients is often recorded above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Normally, this level of fever is considered to be the emergency mark beyond which the patient needs to be treated in an emergency health care facility. This is because there can be permanent damage to the individual if he or she sustains extended periods of fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, any individual who has fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit should visit a doctor’s clinic immediately. This fever may be temporarily contained by using medications that one would use for a normal flu based fever. However, this temperature will be consistently high until the treatment for dengue fever is administered. An individual will display symptoms of dengue fever within 3 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. The virus can remain dormant in the body for up to two weeks before it displays any symptoms. The diagnosis of dengue fever is essential before the treatment for dengue fever can be administered. The diagnosis of dengue fever is simple; it involves a blood test which can be carried out immediately after the patient’s blood has been drawn.

The risk factor for dengue fever is associated with an infected mosquito. However, patients who suffer from dengue fever may develop dengue hemorrhagic fever if they have weak immunes systems. Individuals who have recently been unwell are also at risk as their bodies may be weak as a result of their recent medical problems. Once the diagnosis has been conducted, the patient will be given treatment for dengue fever. The treatment for dengue fever is effective at curing the condition, particularly in individuals who receive treatment early in their infection. As the infection persists, the individual’s body may be weakened, thus making it more difficult to treat the condition. One important thing when it comes to the treatment for dengue fever is the lack of any specific drug or medication. With this being the case, people are often given treatment for dengue fever before it is diagnosed.

The lack of any specific drug treatment for dengue fever means that the treatment of this condition involves some simple steps that are taken to ensure that the individual has the best chance of recovery. These treatment methods include regular hydration, cool showers to reduce temperature and the consumption of nutritious juices and foods. Dengue fever results in severe weakness, which is why an individual will benefit from the consumption of fresh fruit juices and light but nutritious meals. Individuals who have extremely high fever may be given ice packs to help cool their bodies down. Complete bed rest is also advised to patients who suffer from dengue fever. The regular hydration of the individual is crucial as it ensures that there will be regular kidney function and urination. Dengue fever is not contagious as long as there are no mosquitoes present. With this in mind, the treatment for a dengue fever patient should be done by close family members or friends. The presence of such individuals will ensure that there is immediate access to food and drink for the patient without the patient enduring any physical effort.

At the moment, there is no dengue fever vaccine that is effective. Laboratory trials for dengue fever vaccines continue to take place but they have not shown any conclusive results as yet. Besides there is no major side effect that arises from the dengue fever vaccine, besides you could also discuss with your doctor if the vaccine is really essential. The lack of an effective dengue fever vaccine means that the only way one can avoid this condition is to ensure proper hygiene and that mosquitoes are kept at bay. Dengue fever tends to occur in urban areas, particularly in places where sanitation facilities are poor. Therefore, civic drives to clear stagnant water bodies and to promote cleanliness and hygiene are extremely important as these help to reduce outbreaks of the disease. The use of fogging devices and anti-mosquito sprays in such areas also helps tremendously with the elimination of the insects that spread the disease. Dengue fever is common in areas that have recently experienced flooding problems, particularly in the weeks and months after the flooding has left behind stagnant pools of water. Travelers may therefore avoid such areas until the problems have subsided.