Introduction

Aim

The aim of the article on dengue fever is to enable patients to realize the causes, and spread and ways of treating dengue fever. (1) This is because of the increase in number of death cases that have been realized lately. In addition, health professionals are supposed to be enlightened in order to create awareness to several populations that would finally assist them to curb the spread of the fever. Thus, the main aim of the article is to reveal the spread of the fever, and what efforts are taking place to prevent further attacks. (1)

Approach

The article has employed a review approach, in which clinical matters such as spread, causes, symptoms, and effects of dengue fever are observed. In addition, the article has ensured the application of quantitative approach, because several studies have been done to find out the number of cases reported as a result of the fever. For instance, according to research, 60 percent of people are still ignorant on the prevalence of dengue fever. As a result, there are 20,000 death realized every year. (1)

Sources

There are several sources used to collect information about the fever. Some include collection of data through questionnaires in health centers. This allows researchers to know the number of people who have been affected or died of attack. In addition, health professionals have also been interviewed, in order to know the methods they employ to control the spread of dengue fever. In addition, research has been done in 70 countries, to establish the extent of the spread of dengue fever. For instance, in 2002, there were 1.2 million reported cases of attack and transmission of the virus that causes dengue fever. According to research, the most affected areas were the Southeast Asia and West Pacific region. According to the research carried out by the World Health Organization, for instance, there are 22,000 deaths as a result of dengue fever every year.

Contribution to the field:

The article has contributed to the field of medicine in several ways. It has described and given evidence of attack and extent of spread of the virus. These include:

Cause and transmission of dengue fever

According to Weaver, the dengue fever is transmitted by the dengue virus, belonging to the flaviridae family. The virus has a vector, which is the aedes aegypti mosquito. Thus, when one is bitten by the mosquito, the virus is easily passed through the blood. According to the research, dengue fever is experienced mostly in urban areas. The research further reveals that the viruses exist in different forms, including DENV-1, DENV -2, DENV -3 and DENV -4. Their effect on the human body, however, is the same. In extreme cases, attack may result to death. (2)

Clinical features of dengue

According to Teixeira and Baretto (2009), the infection of dengue may at times go without any symptoms. The disease, however, mostly affects children, and in most cases, has been confused to be other diseases like malaria. According to a study performed in children in Thailand, the dengue fever is characterized by the accumulation of a plasma fluid in the extra vascular space. Thus, the significance of the study was to classify the different forms and classification of dengue, as well as how the disease can be treated. The study further revealed that dengue fever may at times appear as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. (1)

According to Chakraborty, other symptoms of dengue fever may come as an appearance of headache, retrorbital pain or rash. He further suggests that patients should be careful, and look out for warning signals such as spontaneous bleeding, vomiting, intense pain in the abdomen or breathing difficulties. Thus, incase any of these symptoms are observed, it is advised to seek treatment. Health professionals are also advised to be keen in order to avoid confusion on the symptoms of dengue fever with other diseases. (3)

Prevention of dengue

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, there are several ways of preventing the spread of dengue fever. He claims that research is underway to ensure that a vaccine is invented, to help contain the fever. So far, the tetravalent vaccine has been discovered. This is given in 2 and 3-phase trials. Thus, it assists in reducing the spread of the virus, which spreads the fever. (4)

According to the report, however, there are various reasons why the vaccine has not been successful. For instance, giving of the virus is expensive, which makes it difficult to give the vaccine to everyone. In addition, the approach is poorly sustainable, thus has not been efficient. Moreover, due to environmental hostility, it has been impossible to sustain the spread and distribution of the dengue fever vaccine. Thus, all these setbacks contribute to the spread of dengue fever.

Teixeira and Baretto (2009) explore other approaches that have been tried, though efforts have proved futile. For instance, to prevent spreading the virus, a traditional control program was established. Though, the program did not investigate the transmission of the virus. In this sense, the program was not successful as planned. In addition, other control strategies such as the use of biological and mosquito traps are still under investigation. (1)

How to reduce the spread of dengue during epidemics

According to White, there are several ways that can be employed in order to educe the spread of dengue fever. He suggests that creating awareness on the spread and contamination of dengue virus is the best option. Thus, in order to facilitate this, it is vital to train health professionals in order to increase awareness among the affected communities. In addition, it is vital to look for warning signs that can assist people to realize its occurrence. These signs are vital because they assist people to acquire vaccines that would encourage assistance. (5)

Miller, Vandome, and McBrewster insist that though no standard exists for the prevention of dengue virus, it is vital to take early precaution, in order t o prevent premature deaths. Thus, he suggests that it is vital for health professionals to allow straightforward and dependable protocols for diagnosis. In this sense, patients will be informed earlier of warning signs, in order to be alert. This reduces chances of death   and other effects of the disease. Moreover, it promotes knowledge of curbing the disease, thus allowing patients to contain its spread (6).

Therefore, the “diagnosis and management of dengue” article has made a vital contribution to the field of medicine. It has enlightened patients, health professionals and communities about the spread, cause and effects of dengue fever. The symptoms, for instance, allow people to be on the look out for them, in order to seek early treatment. This allows for the ability to control attacks and subsequent deaths as a result of the fever.

Reference

1. Teixeira, M & Baretto, M. Diagnosis and Management of Dengue. Lancet [serial on the     Internet]. (2009, Sep 19), [cited September 5, 2011]; 352(9132): 1189-1193. Available         from: MEDLINE with Full Text.
2. Weaver, S. Frontiers in Dengue Virus Research. New York: Horizon Scientific Press, 2010.
3. 3. Chakraborty, T. Dengue Fever and Other Hemorrhagic Viruses. Infobase Publishing, 2008.
4. Miller, F, Vandome, A, McBrewster, J. Dengue Fever. New York: VDM Publishing House Ltd, 2010.

4. National Organization for Rare Disorders. NORD guide to rare disorders. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003.
5. White, K. Dengue Fever. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.

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