What Happens When Someone Gets Dengue Fever?

Summary

Dengue fever, caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, is a global health concern, affecting up to 400 million people annually. The disease’s symptoms range from mild fever and rashes to severe complications like hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Researchers like Dr. Shannon Bennett are studying the virus’s genetic makeup to understand its spread and why some people develop severe symptoms. With no perfect vaccine yet, preventing infection remains key. The challenge lies in creating a vaccine that is effective against all four serotypes of the virus, a complex task with ongoing efforts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus of the same name, which can lead to a complete system shutdown if not managed properly.
• 😀 The disease is primarily spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are day-biting and prefer dawn or dusk to feed.
• 😀 Dengue virus is highly efficient in entering human cells, where it uses the host cell to replicate and spread, unlike diseases like malaria which cause cells to burst.
• 😀 The Dengue virus has four different serotypes, and co-circulation of these types increases the risk of severe forms of the disease.
• 😀 Secondary infections with Dengue can be more dangerous, as the immune response from a previous infection may not work effectively against a new serotype, leading to severe illness.
• 😀 Hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome are severe outcomes of Dengue infections, often triggered by an overactive immune response.
• 😀 Dengue shock syndrome can cause blood vessels to leak, leading to hypovolemic shock and potentially death due to severe blood loss.
• 😀 Symptoms of Dengue can initially improve after fever subsides, but severe complications like hemorrhagic fever can develop rapidly after this.
• 😀 Despite the high number of Dengue cases globally, severe outcomes are relatively rare, with less than 1% of cases leading to fatalities in many countries.
• 😀 The development of a vaccine for Dengue is complicated, as it needs to be effective against all four serotypes, which is a unique challenge in vaccine development.

Q & A

What is Dengue fever and what causes it?

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Dengue virus, which is a member of the Flaviviridae family. It can lead to severe symptoms, including fever, rashes, joint pain, and in severe cases, can result in organ failure.

Why is Dengue fever sometimes called 'breakbone fever'?

Dengue fever is sometimes referred to as 'breakbone fever' due to the intense muscle and joint pain that many patients experience during the illness, which can feel like bones breaking.

What regions of the world are most at risk for Dengue fever?

Dengue fever is most commonly found in tropical regions, with 40-50% of the global population at risk of contracting the disease.

What are the common symptoms of Dengue fever?

Common symptoms of Dengue fever include fever, rashes, painful joint and muscle aches, vomiting, and in some cases, more severe symptoms such as hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome.

How does Dengue virus enter the human body?

The Dengue virus enters the body through a bite from an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito, which feeds on human blood. Once inside, the virus targets white blood cells and uses them to replicate.

How does the Dengue virus replicate within the host?

Once inside the host's cells, the Dengue virus takes advantage of the host's cellular machinery to replicate itself. The virus does not cause the host cell to burst like other viruses; instead, it buds from the cell, utilizing the cell's energy and metabolism.

What is the danger of multiple Dengue serotypes circulating together?

The danger of multiple Dengue serotypes circulating together is that exposure to one serotype can enhance the severity of an infection with a different serotype. This can lead to more severe forms of the disease, including hemorrhagic fever.

Why does immunity to one Dengue serotype not protect against others?

Immunity to one Dengue serotype does not protect against others because the immune response to one strain does not match perfectly with another. This mismatch can lead to more severe reactions, such as hemorrhagic fever, during a secondary infection.

What is Dengue shock syndrome and how does it develop?

Dengue shock syndrome occurs when an overactive immune response causes capillaries to become leaky, leading to fluid loss into tissues and a significant drop in blood pressure, which can result in hypovolemic shock and even death.

How many severe cases of Dengue fever occur annually, and what is the fatality rate?

Although nearly half a billion people are infected with Dengue annually, only about 500,000 cases are severe, and the fatality rate is generally less than 1% in most countries.