Dengue is a viral disease spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Dengue is endemic to many tropical countries. Most cases reported in the United States are due to travelers returning from abroad. You can get dengue hemorrhagic fever if you contract a second strain of this virus and it can be fatal. Since there are no vaccines for this disease, the way to cope with dengue fever is to follow certain medical and preventive guidelines.
Instructions
1. Know the symptoms of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. The signs of dengue fever are high fever, rash, vomiting, headache and severe joint pain. The symptoms for dengue hemorrhagic fever are more severe and can include respiratory complications, abdominal pain, bleeding, bruising and shock.
2. Seek immediate medical attention if you exhibit any of these symptoms, especially if you recently traveled to a tropical area. Inform your doctor of your travels abroad. Through physical examinations and blood tests, the doctor is able to diagnose this disease.
3. Relieve the symptoms of dengue fever by getting bed rest and plenty of fluids, if this is the doctor's diagnosis. Your doctor may also recommend acetaminophen and codeine for the headaches and joint pain. This can help you cope with dengue fever as there are no antibiotics or medicines to treat this disease.
4. Prepare yourself for a hospital stay if it is dengue hemorrhagic fever. Monitoring a patient is vital because the patient may require intensive care, intravenous fluids, blood transfusions or oxygen therapy. Patients do recover but dengue can be fatal for children under 10 years old.
5. Prevent bites from infected mosquitoes by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when visiting tropical areas where dengue is endemic. Use mosquito spray repellent for added protection.
6. Check outside your home for sources of stagnant water, plastic receptacles, and old tires as these are mosquito breeding sites. Take preventive measures and eliminate these breeding sites by using sprays and insecticides (see the Resources). Note that there are a few reported cases of dengue in the United States in some southern states (see the Resources).
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