Severe Cases of Dengue Fever Reported

 

Long pants and bug spray are still the order of the day on St. John with more cases of dengue fever being reported across the island.

There were no official figures available last week from the Virgin Islands Department of Health, which did not return St. John Tradewinds phone calls as of press time.

Yet from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay, reports of dengue fever have continued since the summer. Some cases reportedly last only a few days, while others linger for weeks. Last week alone, at least two people were admitted to R.L. Schneider Hospital with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which can be fatal.

One of the hospitalized DHF patients was monitored and released after her blood platelet levels increased while the other patient reportedly was given two blood transfusions before her platelet count returned to normal.

There are four different strains of dengue fever, varying from mild to the potentially fatal hemorrhagic type, according to information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection with one strain usually gives immunity to that particular strain. Additional infection with different strains, however, increases the risk of severe complications.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which live near the home any place water can be collected, like in old tires and buckets.

Dengue cannot be transmitted directly from person to person, but if a mosquito bites a person with the dengue virus in their blood that mosquito can transmit the virus by biting a healthy person, according to information from CDC.

Symptoms of dengue fever, which is commonly called bone break disease, include high fever, severe headache usually behind the eyes, joint, muscle and bone pain and rash.

DHF is characterized by a fever which lasts from two to seven days with the symptoms of dengue fever. When the fever declines, however, symptoms including persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain and difficulty breathing develop, according to information from CDC.

“This marks the beginning of a 24- to 48-hour period when the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) become excessively permeable (leaky), allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels into the peritoneum (causing ascites) and pleural cavity (leading to pleural effusions),” according to information from CDC. “This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, followed by death, if circulatory failure is not corrected. In addition, the patient with DHF has a low platelet count and hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding.”

There is no vaccine for dengue fever and the best treatments include hydration and pain relievers with acetaminophen, according to CDC information.

Patients with dengue fever should avoid pain relievers containing aspirin, according to information from CDC.

People who suspect they have DHF should seek immediate medical attention, according to the CDC.

With no vaccine for dengue fever, the best preventive measure is to eliminate places where mosquitoes lay their eggs, according to CDC information.

“Items that collect rainwater or to store water should be covered or properly discarded,” according to the CDC. “Pet and animal watering containers and vases with fresh flowers should be emptied and cleaned (to remove eggs) at least once a week. This will eliminate the mosquito eggs and larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes present in these areas.

The CDC also recommends using mosquito repellants containing between 20 and 30 percent DEET and wearing long pants when outside.

“The emphasis for dengue prevention is on sustainable, community-based, integrated mosquito control, with limited reliance on insecticides,” according to the CDC. “Preventing epidemic disease requires a coordinated community effort to increase awareness about dengue fever/DHF, how to recognize it, and how to control the mosquito that transmits it. Residents are responsible for keeping their yards and patios free of standing water where mosquitoes can be produced.”

For more information about dengue fever, check out www.cdc.gov/dengue.