ACCORDING TO WEDMD.COM, DENGUE SYMPTOMS ARE MILD AND CAN SOMETIMES BE MISTAKEN FOR THOSE OF THE FLU OR SOME OTHER VIRAL INFECTION.
Dengue (pronounced DENgee) cases are on the increase in the Caribbean, and so far for the year in Barbados there have been just under 40 people hospitalised out of 301 suspected and eight confirmed cases.
Dengue is caused by any one of four viruses transmitted to people through the bites of infected Aedes species of mosquitoes (primarily Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus species). The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with the virus in their blood.
Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. Dengue cannot be spread directly from one person to another person. The incubation period for dengue ranges between three to ten days, and symptoms may include a sudden high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Skin rashes could appear after two to five days, and mild bleeding of nose or gums could also occur.
Medical practitioners have observed that generally people with dengue can recover at home as the symptoms usually last only a few days, and people tend to feel better after a week.
According to wedmd.com, dengue symptoms are mild and can sometimes be mistaken for those of the flu or some other viral infection.
“The virus could also develop into a very serious health challenge like dengue haemorrhagic fever, which is distinctive by its high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death. This is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS). People with weakened immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue haemorrhagic fever,” the website states.
While there have been hospitalisations in Barbados no deaths were recorded for the past two years, nor has it yet reached epidemic proportions, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George said recently. The last dengue epidemic in Barbados was in 2016 when there were 587 confirmed cases and 571 suspected cases in 2017, and 66 probable and suspected cases in 2018.
Treatment
Medical practitioners have also observed that there is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection, but they will prescribe a relief for the associated pain. These pain relievers will be free of aspirin or ibuprofen which could worsen bleeding. Doctors also recommend that people with dengue drink lots of fluids, and get more rest than usual.
The best way to prevent dengue is not to be bitten by infected mosquitoes. The Ministry of Health has been promoting reduction of the dengue carrying mosquitoes by encouraging people to get rid of anything in which water can settle to create a breeding ground. There is also an ongoing fogging exercise.
People are also advised to use insect repellant, and wear long-sleeved shirts when outdoors especially in an area that is high risk. A mosquito net is also recommended for use in houses which do not carry screens at doors and windows.
People are naturally concerned that there are some similarities in the symptoms of COVID-19 and dengue, like the fever, sleepiness or lethargy. In a comparison between the symptoms of dengue and COVID-19, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention states that both dengue and COVID-19 can cause severe illness that may result in death.
“Dengue warning signs include persistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, difficulty breathing, lethargy/ restlessness, postural hypotension, liver enlargement and progressive increase in hematocrit. COVID-19 warning signs include difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face. Complications for both dengue and COVID-19 can develop before test results come back. Clinical management should therefore be guided by clinical presentation,” the website states.
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/images/ symptoms/DengueSymptoms.jpg
PEOPLE ARE NATURALLY CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES IN THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 AND DENGUE, LIKE THE FEVER, SLEEPINESS OR LETHARGY.
