Infectious diseases know no personalities, status or other attributes that are sought after by people. No one is immune based on fame and fortune and this includes the mosquito borne viral disease, dengue fever.

We’ve reported on a number of celebrities over time that have contracted the virus. In 2013, Filipina actress, Jodi Sta. Maria won her battle with dengue.

Image/Video Screen Shot
Angel Locsin Image/Video Screen Shot

In India, Ranveer Singh, Vir Das and Bangladeshi cricketer, Shakib Al Hasanall were diagnosed with dengue fever right around the same time as Jodi Sta. Maria.

While most recover, not everyone is that fortunate. Earlier this year, Thailand actor, Thrisadee “Por” Sahawong died after contracting the mosquito borne virus.

In a Manila Standard report Sunday, Filipina movie star, Angel Locsin, recounts her not one, but two battles against dengue fever.

The first time was in 2006, Locsin notes–“It wasn’t detected immediately. The doctors thought I had bronchitis or sinusitis. I kept returning to the hospital but didn’t want to be confined because I had to finish the film ( I Will Always Love You)”. Months later a diagnosis of dengue fever was confirmed.

“The second time I got it was really horrible,” she said. This was while shooting another film in 2008. “In the beginning, I thought it was just stomach flu. I kept vomiting so I did self-medication. I then stopped eating, but the vomiting kept on so I stopped drinking fluids, too. The retching feeling turned nastier. I also had convulsions,” she recalled.

“Don’t commit the same mistake I did. Don’t self-medicate. If you suspect that you have the dengue virus, have yourself checked immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says:

There is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing ibuprofen, Naproxen, aspirin or aspirin containing drugs. They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, avoid mosquito bites while febrile and consult a physician.

As with dengue, there is no specific medication for DHF. If a clinical diagnosis is made early, a health care provider can effectively treat DHF using fluid replacement therapy. Adequately management of DHF generally requires hospitalization.

Through Aug 6, the Philippines Department of Health has reported 84,085 suspected dengue cases and 372 dengue-related fatalities.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

  • Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
  • Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).
  • Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.

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