🦟 Introduction

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions, including Pakistan, especially during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.

🤒 Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear 4–10 days after the mosquito bite and may last up to a week.

• Sudden high fever (104°F or more)
• Severe headache (especially behind the eyes)
• Muscle, bone, and joint pain (“breakbone fever”)
• Nausea, vomiting
• Skin rash (appears 2–5 days after fever)
• Mild bleeding (nosebleeds, gum bleeding, easy bruising)

⚠️ Severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome) can cause:

• Persistent vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bleeding
• Difficulty breathing
• Organ failure

🦠 Causes

• Caused by dengue virus (four types: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4).
• Spread through bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes (day-biting mosquitoes).
• Not spread directly from person to person, but mosquitoes can transmit from an infected person to others.

🔬 Diagnosis

Doctors may use:

• Blood tests for detecting dengue virus (NS1 antigen test, PCR)
• Antibody tests (IgM, IgG)
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) – to check low platelet count and low white blood cells

💊 Treatment

👉 There is no specific antiviral drug for dengue. Treatment is supportive and symptomatic:

• Rest and hydration (plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration)
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for fever and pain relief
• Careful monitoring of platelet count and hydration status
• Hospitalization if severe symptoms appear

⚠️ Avoid Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs – they increase the risk of bleeding.

🛡️ Prevention

• Use mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil)
• Wear long-sleeved clothing
• Sleep under mosquito nets
• Remove stagnant water (where mosquitoes breed)
• Cover water storage containers
• Use mosquito sprays and coils indoors

💊 Common Medicines Used in Pakistan

• Paracetamol (Panadol, Calpol, Sancos) – for fever and pain relief
• ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts – like ORS Saline, Hydralin) – for preventing dehydration
• IV fluids (in hospitals for severe dehydration/shock)
• Anti-nausea medicines (e.g., Domperidone, Ondansetron – prescribed by doctors)

⚠️ No antibiotics are useful (since dengue is viral), and NSAIDs (Brufen, Disprin, Aspirin) should be avoided.