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- $Unique_ID{BRK03651}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Dengue Fever}
- $Subject{Dengue Fever Breakbone Fever Dandy Fever Duengero Seven Day Fever
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Dengue Shock Syndrome Colorado Tick Fever Typhus
- (Typhoid Fever) Yellow Fever Other Hemorrhagic Fevers}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 514:
- Dengue Fever
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Dengue Fever) is not the
- name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
- find alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Breakbone Fever
- Dandy Fever
- Duengero
- Seven Day Fever
-
- Includes:
-
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
- Dengue Shock Syndrome
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Colorado Tick Fever
- Typhus (Typhoid Fever)
- Yellow Fever
- Other Hemorrhagic Fevers
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Dengue Fever is an acute viral infection characterized by fever. It is
- caused by a bite from mosquitoes carrying dengue virus. The primary form of
- Dengue Fever is characterized by a skin rash and a high fever with severe
- pain in the head and muscles.
-
- The secondary forms of this disorder are called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
- and Dengue Shock Syndrome. These usually are caused by a secondary infection
- with a different type of Dengue virus (Type 2), but may also be caused by the
- same virus that causes Dengue Fever. Several days after onset fever,
- bleeding under the skin and in the intestines occurs. A marked fall in blood
- pressure (shock) occurs in very severe cases.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Dengue Fever is a disorder transmitted by mosquitoes carrying dengue virus.
- The disorder is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms. There is an
- incubation period of 5 to 8 days after the mosquito bite occurs. The patient
- has chills or chilly sensations, with a fever. Pain behind the eyeballs
- (postorbital) occurs on moving the head. The head, lower back, legs and
- joints ache. The patient feels very weak. The temperature rises rapidly,
- sometimes to as high as 40C or 104F, accompanied by a relatively slow heart
- beat (bradycardia) and abnormally low blood pressure. The lymph glands in
- the neck, shoulder, and groin are usually enlarged. Two or three days after
- the first fever, a rash of flat or elevated (maculopapular) spots appears,
- particularly on the face. A second temperature rise follows. The presence
- of Dengue virus in the blood (viremia) can confirm the diagnosis. The
- patient subsequently develops immunity against this type of Dengue virus.
- However, reinfection with a different type of this virus is possible.
-
- Secondary forms of Dengue Fever are Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, and Dengue
- Shock Syndrome. These forms of the disorder primarily affect children
- between 3 and 6 years of age who have been infected a second time with dengue
- virus, and infants 7 to 8 months of age. These forms of the disorder are
- characterized by sudden fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal
- pain. Coughing, throat infection and difficulty in breathing also occur.
- Shock may occur 2 to 6 days after the beginning of the fever, with sudden
- collapse, cool clammy extremities (the trunk is often warm), a weak pulse,
- and bluish discoloration of the skin around the mouth (cyanosis). In serious
- cases, a tendency to bleed excessively occurs, either as purpura or in
- pinpoint spots (petecchiae). The bleeding may appear in many parts of the
- body. Blood vessels become dilated and congested, and swelling (edema) may
- also occur. Gastrointestinal bleeding may lead to vomiting of blood
- (hematemesis) and passing of dark stools stained with blood pigment (melena).
-
- Causes
-
- Dengue Fever is transmitted by a mosquito infected with a Dengue virus.
- These viruses belong to a group of 4 B arboviruses (flaviviruses).
-
- Affected Population
-
- Dengue Fever occurs mainly in subtropical or tropical climates including
- southern Asia, South America (particularly Brazil), and the Caribbean
- including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The virus has also been
- imported into the U.S. by tourists from these areas.
-
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, and Dengue Shock Syndrome usually occur in
- children between 3 and 6 years of age. Infants between 7 and 8 months of age
- may also develop these conditions even after receiving antibodies for Dengue
- Fever prenatally from a previously infected mother. The afflicted infants do
- not have antibodies to the Dengue Type 2 virus.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- The Dengue virus is a B Arbovirus which has 4 distinct serogroups.
-
- Colorado Tick Fever (Mountain Fever; Mountain Tick Fever) is a virus
- infection transmitted by ticks which is prevalent in the western United
- States. Fever, headaches, muscle aches, and generalized discomfort
- characterize the illness, which resolves spontaneously. (For more
- information on this disorder, choose "Colorado Tick Fever" as your search
- term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Epidemic Typhus (European Typhus; Classic Typhus; Louse-Born Typhus;
- Jail Fever) is a severe infectious disorder which begins suddenly and is
- characterized by prolonged high fever, persistent headache, and a rash of
- elevated spots on the skin. Epidemic Typhus is caused by Rickettsia
- prowazekii, an organism that resembles viruses and bacteria. This disorder
- can be transmitted by lice.
-
- Yellow Fever is an arbovirus infection characterized by sudden onset and
- variable severity of symptoms. The disorder is characterized by a fever of
- 102 degrees to 104 F (39 degrees to 40 C), and an abnormally slow heart beat.
- In a few severe cases, excessive amounts of protein are present in the urine.
- In these few cases a yellow skin color (jaundice), bleeding and coughing up
- blood also tend to occur. The virus which causes Yellow Fever is transmitted
- by the bite of a mosquito. (For more information on this disorder, choose
- "Yellow Fever" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Other Hemorrhagic Fevers which are characterized by internal bleeding are
- caused by a variety of viruses. Some of these fevers that occur in Africa
- and South America are: Lassa Fever, Machupo Fever (Bolivian Hemorrhagic
- Fever), Junin Fever (Argentinian Hemorrhagic Fever), Lymphocytic
- Choriomeningitis, Marburg Virus (Hemorrhagic Fever), and, Ebola Virus
- (Hemorrhagic Fever). Blood tests may be used to identify the virus.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Dengue Fever is diagnosed by testing a blood sample for presence of the
- Dengue virus or its antibodies. However, a different type of the Dengue
- virus might cause a second infection. Aspirin and codeine may be prescribed
- for severe headache and muscle pain. Complete bedrest is important.
- Patients should take measures to avoid additional mosquito bites in order to
- prevent reinfection. Fluids should be given to compensate for dehydration.
-
- Treatment for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever depends on the patient's degree of
- dehydration. Patients should be closely monitored to prevent shock. When
- skin appears bluish in color, oxygen should be given. Collapse of blood
- vessels and loss of fluid from the circulation (hemoconcentration) require
- immediate fluid replacement, preferably with a solution like Ringer's
- lactate. Plasma or human serum protein (albumin) should also be given if
- there is no response in the first hour. Fresh blood or blood platelet
- transfusions may control bleeding. Agitated patients may be given
- paraldehyde, chloral hydrate, or diazepam.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Scientists have studied the effect of human interferon on Hemorrhagic Dengue
- Fever. More research is needed before this drug will be available for more
- general use in treating Dengue Fever. Additionally, scientists are trying to
- develop a vaccine which may someday prevent this infectious disorder.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- June 1988. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Dengue Fever, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Office of Public Inquiries
- 1600 Clifton Road NE
- Atlanta, GA 30333
- (404) 329-5354
-
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases (NIAID)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5717
-
- References
-
- DENGUE FEVER IN THE UNITED STATES. A REPORT OF A CLUSTER OF IMPORTED CASES
- AND REVIEW OF THE CLINICAL, EPIDEMIOLOGIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF THE
- DISEASE: M.D. Malison, et al.; JAMA (January 28, 1983: issue 249(4)). Pp.
- 496-500.
-
- DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 2 VACCINE: REACTOGENICITY AND IMMUNOGENICITY IN
- SOLDIERS: W.H. Bancroft, et al.; Journal Infect Dis (June 1984: issue
- 149(6)). Pp. 1005-1010.
-
- DENGUE AND HEPATIC FAILURE: M.E. Alvarez, et al.; American Journal Med
- (November 1985: issue 79(5)). Pp. 670-674.
-
- EFFECT OF INTERFERONS ON DENGUE VIRUS MULTIPLICATION IN CULTURED
- MONOCYTES/MACROPHAGES: H. Hotta, et al.; Biken Journal (December 1984: issue
- 27(4)). Pp. 189-193.
-
-