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Key Points:
 Caused
by a virus.
Transmitted
by mosquitoes.
No
direct human to human transmission.
All
tropical parts of world, both urban and rural.
Year-round
transmission, but rainy season increases mosquito breeding.
Signs and Symptoms:
High
fever (3-7 days).
Intense
headache.
Painful
joints and muscles.
Pain
behind eyes.
Often
a rash (may appear as fever reduces).
Dangerous
complications can occur - hemorrhagic or shock syndrome.
 Bleeding under skin, gums, nose, or in vomit.
A Mosquito-borne
Disease:
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“Tiger”
mosquitoes (white stripes/black body).
Aedes aegypti
Aedes albopictus
Day-time biting.
Breeding in HUMAN-MADE containers with clean water.
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Prevention by
Environmental Cleanup of Breeding Containers:
Old
tyres.
Dispose,
cover, or fill with earth.
Water
storage (tanks, drums, jars, overhead tanks, coolers).
Cover to keep out mosquitoes (can use
rustproof mesh or screen).
Add
Abate® (temephos) to kill larvae in the water.
Small
containers and garbage - clean up / bury / burn.
Tins, bottles, coconut shells, garbage,
anything that collects water.
Cooler and drip-pans, flower pots, animal
water dish, ant traps, etc.
Empty
water every week, both indoors and outdoors.
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Tyres collect rainwater – dispose or cover
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Overhead storage
need tight covers
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Cover water jars,
drums, coolers and tanks
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Flower pot with
water collection – empty weekly
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Regular Preventive
Action:
Every
week have “Dry Day”.
Cleanup,
drain, empty, or change all standing water in your compound, both indoors and outdoors.
Check
water storage.
Tank
cover in good condition.
Check
no larvae swimming in water.
Can treat with Abate® (temephos)
(or use fish in ponds).
Personal
Prevention:
Mosquito repellant when outdoors during
daytime.
Flywire/screening on
doors and windows.
Mosquito coils or vapor mats.
Mosquito nets for children or elderly who
sleep during the day.
None of these are effective by themselves
alone, use combination.
Treatment:
No
specific treatment – no curative drug is available.
Use
supportive care – pain relief, drink fluids, rest.
Use
panadol
(paracetamol).
Do not use aspirin (salicyclic
acid), do not use ibuprofen.
WATCH
for bleeding symptoms of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever
(severe dengue with complications)
High
fever with Bleeding Symptoms – Rush
to hospital:
Blood spots under the skin (petechiae).
Bleeding from gums.
Nose bleeding (epistaxis).
Vomiting blood (hematemesis).
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Fluid management at hospital is critical
(see WHO guidelines).
Platelet transfusion can be vital.
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Recognition
and Early Management:
Fever patients have red spots on skin (petechiae), bleeding from gums or nose, vomiting of
blood.
Fever patients remain ill (despite drop in
temperature) and clinical situation deteriorates:
 Clammy skin, cold and sweaty extremities,
drowsiness, and/or restlessness.
Rush patient to hospital as soon as you see
this.
Suspect dengue fever if several children have a high continuous fever for at least 2 days
which fails to respond to treatment for malaria, meningitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, and other causes.
Suspect dengue fever if unexplained deaths, with
or without haemorrhage, occur within 1 week after
onset of fever.
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