By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Officials with the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Dhaka report a continued decrease in dengue fever cases in October.

During the week ending October 20, officials reported only 839 cases, this compares with 1951 cases the week prior and more than 15,000 in a week during the epidemic’s peak in August.

To date, 93,807 cases have been reported in 2019, including 104 deaths.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV

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).

India ranks #1 globally in 11 neglected tropical diseases

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.

Dengue in Sri Lanka: 2019 numbers eclipse last year’s figures

Karachi: Diphtheria, tetanus kills 5 in past two weeks

CDC issues travel alert for Pakistan due to XDR typhoid fever


dengue
Image/IEDCR