{"id":2546,"date":"2023-11-07T18:58:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T18:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humancarelab.com\/newsite\/?p=2546"},"modified":"2023-11-07T18:58:23","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T18:58:23","slug":"what-is-dengue-infection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/humancarelab.com\/what-is-dengue-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Dengue Infection?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dengue is a vector-borne viral infection and a globally important public health problem. The dengue viruses (serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4) are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses<\/a> of the Flaviviridae<\/a> family. Transmission from human to human is predominantly by the mosquito Aedes aegypti<\/em>, which bites in the daytime, is adapted to human habitats and has a preference for human blood meals. More than 1 billion people are at risk of dengue infection in over 100 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Any of the four serotypes<\/a> of dengue virus can result in dengue, which is a systemic febrile illness lasting 3\u20137 days and characterized by viremia<\/a>, fever, rash, headache, muscle and joint ache. Occasionally, dengue manifests as dengue\u00a0 hemorrhagic\u00a0 fever<\/a> (DHF), a potentially life-threatening illness associated with capillary leakage<\/a>, hemorrhagic manifestations and, in severe cases, hypovolemic shock<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIAGNOSIS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cautious attention should be directed at DF if a patient suffers from high fever within 2 weeks of being in the tropics or subtropics.[43<\/a>] A decreased number of white blood cells (leukopenia), accompanied by a decreased number of platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and metabolic acidosis are the initial changes on laboratory examinations. Microbiological laboratory testing confirms the diagnosis of DF. Virus segregation in cell cultures, nucleic acid demonstration by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serological detection of viral antigens (such as NS1) or particular antibodies are the preferred microbiological assays.[5<\/a>] Viral segregation and nucleic acid demonstration provide precise diagnosis, although the high cost limits the availability of these tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosquito-to-human transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the\u00a0Aedes aegypti<\/em>\u00a0mosquito. Other species within the Aedes genus can also act as vectors, but their contribution is secondary to\u00a0Aedes aegypti<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After feeding on an DENV-infected person, the virus replicates in the mosquito midgut, before it disseminates to secondary tissues, including the salivary glands. The time it takes from ingesting the virus to actual transmission to a new host is termed the extrinsic incubation period (EIP). The EIP takes about 8-12 days when the ambient temperature is between 25-28\u00b0C\u00a0[4-6]<\/sup>. Variations in the extrinsic incubation period are not only influenced by ambient temperature; a number of factors such as the magnitude of daily temperature fluctuations[7, 8]<\/sup>, virus genotype\u00a0[9]<\/sup>, and initial viral concentration\u00a0[10]<\/sup>\u00a0can also alter the time it takes for a mosquito to transmit virus. Once infectious, the mosquito is capable of transmitting virus for the rest of its life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human-to-mosquito transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosquitoes can become infected from people who are viremic with DENV. This can be someone who has a symptomatic dengue infection, someone who is yet to have a symptomatic infection (they are pre-symptomatic), but also people who show no signs of illness as well.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Risk of mosquito infection is positively associated with high viremia and high fever in the patient; conversely, high levels of DENV-specific antibodies are associated with a decreased risk of mosquito infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disease characteristics (signs and symptoms)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dengue is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death. Symptoms usually last for 2\u20137 days, after an incubation period of 4\u201310 days after the bite from an infected mosquito\u00a0[25]<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The World Health Organization classifies dengue into 2 major categories: dengue (with \/ without warning signs) and severe dengue. The sub-classification of dengue with or without warning signs is designed to help health practitioners triage patients for hospital admission, ensuring close observation, and to minimise the risk of developing the more severe dengue (see below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dengue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40\u00b0C\/104\u00b0F) is accompanied by 2 of the following symptoms during the febrile phase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n