Global health authorities have raised concerns about the potential emergence of dengue fever as a significant global menace in the coming decade.
As officials project a surge in dengue infections this year, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist cautions that the disease is anticipated to spread beyond tropical areas. Europe, North America, and southern regions of Africa are among the new territories at risk.
Global Warming
According to the organization, this is due to the increasing impact of global warming resulting from climate change. As their traditional habitats continue to warm, the mosquitoes that spread dengue fever will be pushed into new areas where they have not been inhabited before, according to Newsweek.
“We need to talk more proactively about dengue,” said Global Health Chief Scientist Jeremy Farrar, stressing: “We need to prepare countries for how they will deal with the additional pressures that the future will bring to many, many big cities.”
This comes as data issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States indicated that about 5% of those infected will have a severe condition that can severely affect blood health and lead to bleeding, while about 1% will develop a fatal condition.
What is the disease?
Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus, and is transmitted to humans when they are exposed to the bites of mosquitoes carrying this infection.
Dengue prevention and control depend on controlling its vectors. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever/severe dengue fever, but early detection of infection and access to the necessary medical care significantly reduce the fatality rates of severe dengue fever, according to World Health Organization.
This disease is particularly common in Asia and Latin America, where it causes about 20,000 deaths annually.
What are its symptoms?
Most people infected with dengue fever have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and their health improves within one to two weeks. In rare cases, dengue fever may be severe and cause death.
If symptoms appear, they usually begin 4 to 10 days after infection and last for 2 to 7 days. They may include the following:
– High fever (40°C/104°F)
– Severe headache
– Pain behind the eye socket
– Muscle and joint pain
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Swollen glands
– Skin rash
Individuals who become infected a second time are at greater risk of developing severe dengue fever.
Symptoms of severe dengue often appear after the fever subsides:
– Severe abdominal pain
– Continuous vomiting
– Rapid breathing
– Bleeding gums or nose
– Fatigue – Restlessness
– Blood in vomit or stool
– Feeling extremely thirsty
– Pale and cold skin
– Feeling weak.
People who develop these severe symptoms should seek care immediately. People who have had dengue fever may feel tired for several weeks after recovering from the illness.
Diagnostic and treatment methods
Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain relievers. Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to prevent infection with the disease.
There is no specific treatment, and the focus is on treating the symptoms of pain only. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided because they can increase the risk of bleeding.
There is a vaccine called Dengvaxia, which is given to people who have had dengue fever at least once and who live in places where the disease is widespread.
As for people with severe dengue fever, hospitalization is necessary in the majority of cases.
