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DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER
Philippine Hemorrhagic Fever was first reported in 1953. In 1958, it was renamed as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever as it became a notifiable disease in the country. Recently, dengue has indeed become a major health concern.
All persons are susceptible to dengue infection, with both sexes equally affected. The age groups that are most dominantly affected are preschoolers and school age children. Adults and infants are also affected. The age wherein the risks of having dengue infection are highest is 5 to 9 years old.
Dengue sporadically occurs over the year. It becomes an epidemic during the rainy season: July to November. The incidence of dengue is highest during the months of September to October.
Everybody is susceptible to acquiring dengue. As long as vector mosquitoes exist, there is a risk of being infected. However, once a person has been infected by dengue, he/she attains acquired immunity that is usually permanent.
I. CAUSATIVE AGENT
The causative agent for dengue is the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The characteristics of the mosquito are the following: * A day biting mosquito (6am to 4am) * Lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. * The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house * Low flying
II. ETIOLOGIC AGENT
Dengue Virus: Types 1, 2, 3, 4, and Chickungunya virus
III. MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Aedes aegypti mosquito bite
*See Figure1 for visual representation
Figure 1: Mode of transmission of dengue
IV. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Dengue is an acute febrile infection of sudden onset with clinical manifestation of 3 stages (Cuevas F.P., 2006).
First 4 days: Febrile or invasive stage- starts unexpectedly as high fever, abdominal pain and headache; flushing which may be accompanied by vomiting, conjunctival infection