Dengue Fever

I have heard a lot about dengue fever lately and after reading up on it, it seems to be rather similar to the West Nile Virus and yellow fever.

Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease which is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes high fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle and joint pain, possibly mild bleeding from the mucous membranes of mouth and nose, and a typical skin rash that looks like measles. Other means of infection, like blood transfusions and organ donations are possible, but rare.

Due to the muscle and joint pain, Dengue fever is also known as "break-bone fever". Most people who are infected won't show any symptoms at all or may experience just a slight fever.

A minority will get seriously ill though and in rare cases the virus results in a life-threatening situation causing high fever with profuse bleeding, low levels of blood platelets, leakage of blood plasma, dangerously low blood pressure, infection of the brain and/or heart, and acute liver failure.

The symptoms of dengue fever can occur between 3 to 14 days after infection. Children may experience symptoms which are less severe and resemble a common cold such as vomiting and diarrhea, but they are more at risk of developing severe complications.

Women are also more vulnerable to the virus then men and to those suffering from a chronic disease such as diabetes or asthma it can be life-threatening.

There are a few things you can do minimizing the risk of getting dengue fever and I will get around to those soon. My hope and prayers are that you will neither have to suffer from dengue fever, nor any other disease.

That may be inevitable though, because we are only human and vulnerable to illnesses and conditions, but God is always there to strengthen and comfort you!

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.