Breakbone fever

Breakbone Fever (also known as Dengue Fever) is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. These may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Recovery generally takes two to seven days. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, blood plasma leakage, and low platelet count.

Etiology

The virus that causes breakbone fever is called the dengue virus. There are four types of dengue virus, all of which can cause the full spectrum of disease. Nevertheless, individuals only gain immunity for the specific serotype they were infected with, and can subsequently be infected with the other three serotypes.

Transmission

Breakbone fever is primarily transmitted through the bites of infected female mosquitoes of the species Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes typically live between the latitudes of 35 degrees north and 35 degrees south below an elevation of 1,000 meters. They typically bite during the early morning and in the evening, but they may bite and thus spread infection at any time of day.

Symptoms and Complications

The onset of breakbone fever is sudden, with symptoms that include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. The joint pain is often so severe that it has given the disease its nickname "breakbone fever". The rash typically appears two to five days after the onset of fever.

Severe dengue is a potentially deadly complication due to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment. Warning signs occur three to seven days after the first symptoms in conjunction with a decrease in temperature and include: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, fatigue, restlessness and blood in vomit.

Prevention and Control

There is no specific treatment for breakbone fever. For severe dengue, medical care by physicians and nurses experienced with the effects and progression of the disease can save lives. Maintaining the patient's body fluid volume is critical to severe dengue care.

Prevention and control relies heavily on reducing the number of natural and artificial water-filled container habitats that support breeding of the mosquitoes. This requires mobilization of affected communities. During outbreaks, emergency control measures may also include the application of insecticides as space sprays.

See Also

• Dengue Fever
• Aedes aegypti
• Mosquito-borne disease