Dengue Fever: Symptoms, Vaccine, Treatment, and Prevention

Dengue fever has emerged as a global health threat, affecting thousands of people worldwide. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue shock syndrome or dengue hemorrhagic fever, both of which are potentially incurable.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, dengue fever is endemic in almost all geographical regions of Pakistan. In 2023, 3019 suspected cases of dengue and 149 deaths were reported in the IDSR reporting system. [1] However, by September 2024, Pakistan reported 2795 new dengue cases, with Balochistan being the hardest-hit region, with the highest number of registered cases in a week. [2]

Other regions, such as Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have also seen a rise in cases, and hospitals in cities such as Rawalpindi have had to accommodate more than 1000 patients with dengue, highlighting the straining healthcare facilities and the immediate need for prevention and control of dengue in Pakistan.

What Is Dengue Fever?

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by one of four closely related dengue viruses including DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, or DENV-4. You get the disease through the bite of an Aedes mosquito (dengue mosquito) infected with the dengue virus. However, this disease can’t spread from one person to another person.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Mild dengue symptoms which usually begin 4-10 days after infection, may include:

High fever
Pain behind the eyes
Headache
Skin rash
Bone, joint, and muscle pain
Vomiting
Nausea

Sometimes, these mild symptoms are easy to be mistaken as those of the flu or another viral infection. Younger children and people who have never had dengue fever tend to have milder cases than adults.

What dengue treatments are available?

There is no specific treatment of dengue. Symptoms of the disease are treated with analgesics by conducting a complete CBC for Dengue. Anti-inflammatory or non-steroidal drugs should be avoided, as they may enhance the risk of bleeding.

How can infection be prevented?

Prevention of the disease relies mainly on vector control, i.e. personal protection measures or fighting the mosquitoes that spread the virus.

Preventive Measures

Here is how you can lower the risk of getting dengue by protecting yourself from mosquito bites through:

Covering your body by wearing full clothes
Use mosquito nets if sleeping outdoors, ideally, nets sprayed with insect repellent or mosquito repellents (containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535)
Using mosquito sprays, coils, and vaporizers indoors
Managing your environment to prevent mosquitoes from breeding by removing anything with stagnant water or disposing of solid waste properly

Vaccination

There is also a preventive vaccine called Dengvaxia® which is administered in three doses six months apart, available to certain individuals: those aged 9 to 45 years and had been previously infected with the virus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to tackle the dengue epidemic in Pakistan a multisectoral approach is needed. The government needs to take action to upgrade the infrastructure, especially drainage systems to prevent stagnant water from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Moreover, there is a need to train health-care workers and strengthen surveillance systems to ensure timely diagnosis and management of dengue cases.

Lastly, there is a need for collaboration with local communities and international partners to improve the national dengue response plan by leveraging mutual resources and knowledge. Pakistan can considerably enhance its capacity to protect public health and manage dengue outbreaks by implementing these measures.

FAQs

How is dengue diagnosed?

Diagnosis for dengue fever is confirmed through blood tests, including:

Dengue IgM/IgG antibody tests
NS1 antigen test
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test

How to cure dengue fever?

There is no specific treatment for dengue. However, the management involves supportive care including taking enough rest, maintaining hydration, and taking pain relief medication.