2023-06-17 11:05:00
General
Dengue is an infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. This virus is transmitted to humans by an infected mosquito, which is mainly active during the day.
Infection with the dengue virus occurs when an infected mosquito of the Aedes species (AedesAegypti or AedesAlbopictus) bites a person. These mosquitoes can also transmit the Chikungunya virus and Zika virus. Large outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya have been recorded in South America during the first months of 2023, according to PAHO/WHO.
Prevention
Dengue prevention is mainly aimed at preventing mosquito bites.
Some preventive measures that can be taken are:
- Sleep under a mosquito net
- Wear covering clothing
- Coat it with a mosquito repellent
- Clear/eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by covering or emptying water-containing objects, such as old tires, empty buckets, flower pots, etc.
Symptoms
Most dengue virus infections are without symptoms.
The majority of infected individuals with symptoms show mild symptoms, especially:
- Sudden fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle, bone and joint pains
- Headache and eye pain (especially behind the eyes)
- Skin rash
- Cough
- A sore throat
Non-severe dengue virus infections usually recover after a few days to a week.
Signs of severe dengue that need to be alert and see a doctor immediately are:
- Severe and persistent abdominal pain
- Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
- Bleeding from the nose and gums
- Vomiting blood or blood in the stool
- Feeling tired, restless or irritable
What to do in case of complaints:
- Paracetamol can be used against pain and fever
- Increase fluid intake (drink a lot)
- Do not take blood-thinning painkillers such as Aspirin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen or Naproxen
- Consult the general practitioner or nearest outpatient clinic (RGD or MZ) in case of complaints
Ministry of Health
June 16, 2023
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