How Does Dengue Affect the Human Body?
Dengue is a transmitted disease and it may have major consequences to any person. The pronunciation of dengue is den-gey. It is caused by female mosquitoes, named Aedes mosquitoes. It is most seen and felt in tropical and subtropical areas such as the torrid zone. Dengue is caused by the mosquitoes when they bite you, and this generally happens in the daytime. These mosquitoes are generally found in human habitats. Dengue is a major disease and in fact, nearly 400 million people in this entire world are affected by it in a year. The more basic way to understand this is that every one mosquito in every four mosquitoes is a female Aedes mosquito that causes dengue. This virus is so deadly that it might affect an individual four times in his lifetime.
Causes of Dengue:
Now, let us discuss the causes of dengue. Many different ways can cause dengue -
A mosquito can cause death, we will ponder over those causes.
1. Mother to child - The dangerous thing is that the dengue virus can also affect a fetus or womb of a mother. This means that if the mother is suffering from dengue and she is pregnant, the disease will pass on to the baby as well. It is also a known fact that dengue can be transmitted through breastfeeding.
2. Mosquito bites - This is the most common method of getting infected by this disease. If a mosquito bites you and if that mosquito is a dengue mosquito, you will need treatment as the chances of you getting infected is one hundred percent.
3. Other miscellaneous sources - Other scientific methods or biological methods of transmitting the disease are organ transplant, blood transfusion, etc. Now, let us study some symptoms that you might notice when a dengue mosquito bites you.
The following are the major common symptoms of dengue, read them and be aware of your body and its symptoms. The symptoms and signs might vary from major to normal. Sometimes these symptoms can be life-threatening. Take the guidance of a doctor whenever you feel that something is off like you have Swollen glands, rashes, fall in blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, bleeding from gums and nose, pain in joints and muscles, severely, blood while excreting, vomiting, and urine, no appetite or loss of appetite, difficulty in taking in oxygen or clammy skin straight away contact your doctor ahead.
These symptoms might or might not be curable. You must go to a professional or a doctor to get yourself tested and to have the right treatment.
Symptoms of Dengue
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About one in four dengue virus-infected people gets sick. The signs and symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Severe dengue fever or dengue haemorrhagic fever can be life-threatening, and the patients need to be hospitalized immediately. The common symptom is high fever along with the following
Rash.
Nausea and vomiting.
Severe joint and muscle pain and abdominal pain.
Bleeding from nose and gums.
Loss of appetite.
Blood in stool, urine and vomit.
Difficulty in breathing.
Clammy or cold skin (shock).
Restlessness and sudden fall in blood pressure.
Swollen glands.
These symptoms usually persist for 2-7 days. Then the patients typically recover within a week.
Dengue Treatment
To date, no vaccine or medicine has been developed. But for patients with mild symptoms can
Rest as much as possible.
Drink lots of fluid (water, drinks with electrolytes) for extra hydration.
Take paracetamol to relieve pain or control fever.
For a severe condition, the patients need to seek hospitalization and may require blood transfusion or intravenous fluid supplementation.
Dengue Prevention
Only the preventive measures of Dengue can effectively safeguard thousands of people against this disease.
Infected people should stay in isolation and indoors until all the symptoms subside (3-5 days). Apart from that, the following guidelines need to be maintained to remain safe.
One of the valid dengue reasons includes waterlogging. These mosquitoes typically lay eggs and breed in clean stagnant water. Therefore, get rid of all nearby standing water sources. Also, change the water of flower vases daily.
Try to stay at well-screened houses and keep all the doors and windows shut especially during dawn, dusk and night as well. The Aedes mosquitoes can bite during both daytime and night too.
Use mosquito repellents containing at least 10 percent concentration of DEET throughout the day. Also, use mosquito nets while sleeping.
Wear long-sleeved pants, shirts etc. when you have to travel to mosquito-infested areas.
Daily remove the garbage and waste and keep your surroundings clean.
Once you know about the causes of Dengue, take protection accordingly to fight against dengue viruses.
Now, it’s time for a quick quiz on Dengue!
Bleeding in dengue causes a decrease in _________________ level.
Antibiotics can cure dengue fever. True/False
Ans: 1- Platelet. 2- False.
For further information regarding the causative organism of dengue fever, stay tuned to Vedantu’s app! Also, go through the rest of the study materials available on our website to master other chapters of Biology.
FAQs on Dengue: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
1. What is Dengue fever and what causes it?
Dengue fever is a viral, mosquito-borne illness common in tropical and subtropical regions. It is caused by the Dengue virus (DENV), which is a member of the Flavivirus genus. There are four distinct, but closely related, serotypes of the virus that cause Dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4).
2. What are the main symptoms of Dengue, including the critical warning signs?
The symptoms of Dengue typically appear 4-10 days after the mosquito bite. Common symptoms include a high fever (40°C/104°F), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and a skin rash. Critical warning signs, which indicate a progression to severe dengue, include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Bleeding from gums or nose
- Fatigue and restlessness
- Rapid breathing
3. How is the Dengue virus transmitted from one person to another?
Dengue is not transmitted directly from person to person. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito first bites a person already infected with the Dengue virus. After an incubation period of about 8-10 days in the mosquito, it can then transmit the virus to a healthy person through its bite.
4. What is the difference between the Dengue virus and its vector, the Aedes mosquito?
The key difference lies in their biological roles. The Dengue virus (DENV) is the pathogen, the microscopic infectious agent that causes the disease inside the human body. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the vector, or carrier, that transmits the virus from an infected person to a healthy one. The mosquito itself does not suffer from the disease but is essential for the virus's transmission cycle.
5. How long does it typically take to recover from a Dengue infection?
Mild Dengue fever usually lasts for 2 to 7 days. Most people recover within a week or so. However, the feeling of tiredness and weakness can persist for several weeks after the fever has subsided. In cases of severe Dengue, recovery can take much longer and requires hospitalisation.
6. What are the primary preventive measures against Dengue fever?
The most effective way to prevent Dengue is to avoid being bitten by Aedes mosquitoes and to control their population. Key measures include:
- Eliminating mosquito breeding sites by removing stagnant water in containers like coolers, pots, and old tyres.
- Using mosquito repellents containing DEET or Picaridin.
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Using mosquito nets while sleeping, especially during the day as Aedes mosquitoes are daytime biters.
7. What is the general line of treatment for a patient with Dengue fever?
There is no specific antiviral treatment for Dengue fever. Treatment is primarily supportive and focuses on relieving symptoms. This includes getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated by drinking lots of fluids, and using paracetamol to control fever and pain. It is crucial to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen and Aspirin, as they can increase the risk of bleeding. Severe cases require hospitalisation for fluid management and monitoring.
8. How do diagnostic tests confirm a Dengue infection?
Dengue infection is confirmed through laboratory tests that detect the virus or the body's response to it. The NS1 antigen test is effective in the early stages (first 1-7 days) as it detects a viral protein. After about 5-7 days, antibody tests (IgM and IgG) are more useful. These tests detect the antibodies produced by the immune system to fight the virus, helping to confirm a current or recent infection.
9. Why can a person get infected with Dengue more than once?
A person can be infected with Dengue up to four times in their lifetime. This is because the Dengue virus has four different serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4). Infection with one serotype provides lifelong immunity to that specific serotype, but only temporary, partial immunity to the other three. Once this partial immunity wanes, the person is susceptible to infection by the other serotypes.
10. What makes a subsequent Dengue infection potentially more severe than the first?
A second Dengue infection with a different serotype is often more severe due to a phenomenon called Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE). The pre-existing antibodies from the first infection recognise the new serotype but cannot neutralise it effectively. Instead, they can paradoxically help the new virus enter cells more easily, leading to a higher viral load and a more severe immune reaction, which can result in conditions like Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).
