Dengue: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

The virus Dengue, also known as “bone-breaking fever"Due to the muscle and joint pain it causes, it is the most important mosquito-borne disease in the world. It affects 400 million people every year, and its incidence has skyrocketed in some countries (+300 percent). in Brazil(compared to last year and a state of emergency in Peru) in Central and South America. While there are some concerns in Italy too. The dengue virus is not transmitted between people: it always requires a mosquito to bite someone who is already sick and then another person. Diagnosis is not easy, also because it is a generally asymptomatic disease, caused by a virus of the genus Flavirus, the same as yellow fever and Nile feverItaly has not had, in the past, worrying statistics on the Dengue virus (approximately 100-150 cases), but unfortunately the situation has recently worsened, perhaps also due to the effect of the climate crisis which has led to a considerable increase in mosquitoes in circulation. Among other things, although it is not yet clearly proven, the tiger mosquito is also in the dock as a possible vector of the dengue virus.

Symptoms

Given that symptoms are not common, when they do appear, they include:

• Temperature
• Strong never in the head
• Pain behind the eye
• Lowering of the pressure
• Severe muscle and joint pain
• Skin rash and mild gum bleeding

Diagnosis

Diagnostic confirmation is achieved by performing a molecular test Blood tests to detect the viral genome (PCR). If the test confirms the presence of the dengue virus, the local health authority (ASL) of the infected person's area of ​​residence must be notified immediately so that the entire area surrounding their home can be disinfected.

Cure

There is no specific treatment for the dengue virus: most people recover within a couple of weeks. If symptoms are present, rest, antipyretics to control fever, and sometimes oral or intravenous rehydration treatments in more severe cases are helpful. Other medications that can be used, always and only with a doctor's prescription, include: painkillers or medications intended to support the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotics are completely useless.

Prevention

To prevent Dengue, in case of travel to countries at riskIt's advisable to get vaccinated. The vaccine approved in Italy by AIFA, on the market since 2023, is a Japanese brand, and is tetravalent, effective against all four dengue subtypes that can cause infection. Other useful preventive measures include:

• Wear long-sleeved clothing when visiting areas with high mosquito populations. Light-colored cotton clothing is preferable.
• Same goes for the mosquito nets and for the use of natural remedies to stop mosquitoes.
• Avoid areas with stagnant water, and if there are any near your home, report them to the local government.
• Mosquitoes are most active in the early hours of the day, and it is during these hours that you need to be most careful with precautionary measures.
• Empty plant saucers in the garden and on the balcony, as standing water attracts mosquitoes.

Read also:

• How to keep mosquitoes away
• Mosquitoes: Natural Remedies to Eliminate Them
• DIY Mosquito Traps (VIDEO)