Find the word definition

Wiktionary
dengue fever

n. An acute febrile and sometimes hemorrhagic disease endemic to the tropics, caused by any of four species of the virus genus (taxlink Flavivirus genus noshow=1), and primarily transmitted to humans from mosquitoes, though human-to-human transmission is also well documented.

WordNet
dengue fever

n. an infectious disease of the tropics transmitted by mosquitoes and characterized by rash and aching head and joints [syn: dengue, dandy fever, breakbone fever]

Wikipedia
Dengue fever

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Recovery generally takes less than two to seven days. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Dengue is spread by several species of mosquito of the Aedes type, principally A. aegypti. The virus has five different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. A number of tests are available to confirm the diagnosis including detecting antibodies to the virus or its RNA.

A novel vaccine for dengue fever has been approved in three countries, but it is not yet commercially available. Prevention is by reducing mosquito habitat and limiting exposure to bites. This may be done by getting rid of or covering standing water and wearing clothing that covers much of the body. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive and includes giving fluid either by mouth or intravenously for mild or moderate disease. For more severe cases blood transfusion may be required. About half a million people require admission to hospital a year. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen should not be used.

Dengue has become a global problem since the Second World War and is common in more than 110 countries. Each year between 50 and 528 million people are infected and approximately 10,000 to 20,000 die. The earliest descriptions of an outbreak date from 1779. Its viral cause and spread were understood by the early 20th century. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing for medication targeted directly at the virus.

Dengue Fever (band)

Dengue Fever is a six-member band from Los Angeles who combine Cambodian pop music and lyrics with psychedelic rock.

Dengue fever (disambiguation)

Dengue fever is an endemic viral infectious disease.

Dengue fever may also refer to:

  • Dengue virus, the virus that causes dengue fever
  • Dengue Fever (band)

Usage examples of "dengue fever".

Malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea, dysentery, dengue fever, and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) are prevalent.

Your work with the CDC during the dengue fever outbreak in Puerto Rico three years ago was a terrific public relations coup.

Even on those days when she had been suffering the break-bone pains of dengue fever and, in accordance with her doctor's orders, should have remained in bed, her carriage had always been parked in its accustomed place overlooking the scaffold.

Because of skill and a little luck he had never caught anything but a bout of dengue fever, bad enough but not fatal.

Yet he felt more apprehension now than he'd felt even in a Raruana village, piled with corpses infected with dengue fever, or during the outbreak of bubonic plague in the Sierra Madre Occidental.