What exactly is dengue fever and what is the difference between dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever?

According to Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) website, dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 - 14 days. Dengue haemorrhagic fever on the other hand is a more severe form of dengue that can lead to internal bleeding and if left untreated it can even cause death.

Dengue is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected when they take a blood meal from a dengue-infected person. The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person.

What are some of the signs and symptoms of dengue? According to the MOH, dengue fever is characterised by the sudden onset of fever which may last for as long as 7 days. The infected person will typically experience severe headache, muscle ache, joint pain, pain behind the eyeball, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and rash.

A patient may also experience sever bleeding and even shock if infected with the more severe and potentially fatal form of the disease.

There is no specific treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, supportive care with intravenous fluids and frequent blood test monitoring reduces complications of the disease. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be required.

How do you prevent dengue fever? The most effective way of preventing and controlling dengue is to reduce the population of the Aedes mosquito.

You should also protect yourself from mosquito bites. Some precautions include
• wearing long-sleeved clothes
• using mosquito coils and electric vapour mats
• using insect repellent over the exposed parts of the body.

To reduce the population of mosquitoes you should eliminate their breeding grounds by adopting good daily habits such as
• clearing blockages from the roof gutter,
• clearing leaves and stagnant water from drains,
• removing water from potted plants daily,
• avoiding the use of pot plates and
• changing the water in vases everyday