The female Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the Dengue virus, is
here again. With a vengeance. Dengue fever is at epidemic proportions locally
and the change in the weather is partly to blame (not to be confused with
“climate change”, by the way).
Since the beginning of this year, dengue fever is reported to
have resulted in nine deaths in Thailand from 7,000 people who went down with
the disease. The Disease Control Department says the rainy season which exists
between May and June each year is usually a breeding period for the dengue
virus. Now there will be those who say that nine deaths out of 7,000 isn’t
enough to worry about - unless you are potentially the 10th
one!
So, despite my previous pleas (and those of the Public Health
Department), Dengue Fever and its potentially fatal variant, Dengue Hemorrhagic
Fever (DHF) is still with us. The latest figures have now prompted me to repeat
my advice on this subject. If you remember reading about it before, I apologize,
but the subject matter is very important. This is an important ailment that can
be avoided.
However, first you should understand a little more about
Dengue. It was first described in 1780 by a Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia (so it
didn’t start here) when the name Break Bone Fever was applied, with the symptoms
of pain in the bones and rise in temperature. The name “Dengue” came in 1828
during an epidemic in Cuba. The new name was a Spanish attempt at a Swahili
phrase “ki denga pepo” which describes a sudden cramping seizure caused by an
evil spirit! Let me assure you that the local brand of Dengue Fever owes nothing
to spirits, evil, bottled or otherwise.
Like Malaria, the virus is carried by mosquitoes, this time
by one called Aedes aegypti. The virus itself is related to Japanese
encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis and Yellow fever, and there are four
“serotypes” or subgroups of it.
The mosquito lays its eggs in water containers, preferring
the clean water found in water tanks and pots, in the saucers under pot plants
and even under the pet’s food dish. Inside discarded car tyres is another
favorite spot. These mosquitoes are not of the adventurous type and feed during
the day and spend their time within 200 meters of their hatchery. Consequently,
the eradication of any local breeding areas becomes very important towards
maintaining your own health, as you can see. Keep your home free from lying
water for a radius of 200 meters and you’re looking good!
Simple Dengue (if you can call it that) has an incubation
period of around four to seven days and then the full blown symptoms of high
fever and headache begin. The headache is usually behind the eyes and is made
worse by eye movement. From there the pains progress to the limbs with acute
muscle pains, which gave it the old name “Break Bone Fever”. Interestingly, some
patients complain of a metallic taste in the mouth. (Please don’t ask - I have
no idea why!)
On the other hand, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) can
certainly be fatal! It appears that Serotype 2 may be the culprit here, but does
not usually produce DHF unless you have been previously bitten by types 1, 3 or
4. In addition to the symptoms of Classical Dengue the skin begins to bruise
very easily as the blood hemorrhages into the skin. Children are generally more
susceptible to this than adults. This also becomes much more of an emergency and
is best treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of your favorite hospital.
With our ability to treat the viral ailments being very
limited, the defense against the Dengue virus lies in the preventive measures.
The other precautions are to wear long trousers and long sleeved shirts,
especially at sun up and sun down, when the mosquito is at its most ravenous.
The other factor to remember is “D” for Dengue and “D” for DEET. DEET is the
magic ingredient in mosquito repellents, so when you go to buy some, check the
label - if it has DEET, then get it. And then remember to use it!
