Dengue Fever

Why in news?

• Large number of Dengue cases have surfaced in Kerala.

About Dengue Fever:

• Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.
• Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection and may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
• In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into a more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.
• Dengue is spread by several species of female mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, principally Aedes aegypti.
•  A vaccine for dengue fever has been approved and is commercially available in a number of countries.
•  Prevention methods include reducing mosquito habitat and limiting exposure to bites.
• This may be done by getting rid of or covering standing water and wearing clothing that covers much of the body.
•  Treatment of acute dengue is supportive and includes giving fluid either by mouth or intravenously for mild or moderate disease.
• For more severe cases, blood transfusion may be required.
• Dengue has become a global problem since the Second World War and is common in more than 120 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, South Asia and South America.

Prelims Question:

Consider the following statements regarding Dengue Fever:
1.It is caused by Virus.
2.It is vaccine preventable.
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question