Dengue Fever
Dengue Fever
Kimberly A. Bitanga
Microbiology
Professor J. Gray
Dengue Fever
Abstract
Dengue fever is a debilitating tropical disease caused by one of five types of the dengue virus.(1) It is transmitted by mosquitos throughout the tropics and subtropics of not only Southeast Asia, but has now spread to Central and South America, and countries in the Pacific Ocean and America as well. Usually, most people who are infected with the virus are asymptomatic, with mild symptoms, whereas others develop life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever. The usual diagnosis of this condition is based on reported symptoms and a physical exam. Although there are still no approved vaccine or specific antiviral drug for dengue fever, many clinical developments have been implemented and a vaccine may be available in the near future. (2)
Introduction
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus known as dengue virus. This virus continues to infect the human race and is a growing health problem in the tropic and subtropic areas, even with our current state of advanced technology and medical care. Dengue virus is from the family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus. (3) It is a vector borne disease that occurs through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The virus has 5 different types (DENV) 1, 2 3, 4, and 5. Once infected with the virus, symptoms include a sudden high fever, measle-like rash all over the body, headache, and muscle and joint pain. In small cases, the disease can develop into life- threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Although there are methods of prevention of this disease, the cause infecting the human body still results in many cases of
Kimberly A. Bitanga
Microbiology
Professor J. Gray
Dengue Fever
Abstract
Dengue fever is a debilitating tropical disease caused by one of five types of the dengue virus.(1) It is transmitted by mosquitos throughout the tropics and subtropics of not only Southeast Asia, but has now spread to Central and South America, and countries in the Pacific Ocean and America as well. Usually, most people who are infected with the virus are asymptomatic, with mild symptoms, whereas others develop life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever. The usual diagnosis of this condition is based on reported symptoms and a physical exam. Although there are still no approved vaccine or specific antiviral drug for dengue fever, many clinical developments have been implemented and a vaccine may be available in the near future. (2)
Introduction
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus known as dengue virus. This virus continues to infect the human race and is a growing health problem in the tropic and subtropic areas, even with our current state of advanced technology and medical care. Dengue virus is from the family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus. (3) It is a vector borne disease that occurs through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The virus has 5 different types (DENV) 1, 2 3, 4, and 5. Once infected with the virus, symptoms include a sudden high fever, measle-like rash all over the body, headache, and muscle and joint pain. In small cases, the disease can develop into life- threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Although there are methods of prevention of this disease, the cause infecting the human body still results in many cases of