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National Dengue Day

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May 8, 2020

Dengue (DEN) is being recognised as the world's major emerging tropical disease. DEN is an emerging vector-borne disease. Rapid urbanisation, globalisation, poor solid waste and water management and increasing population have given rise to new habitats for mosquito breeding thereby increasing the number of cases. Increased awareness among treating physicians and communities has brought down the mortality due to DEN; however, increasing number of cases year after year is an area of concern.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a day-biting mosquito that prefers to feed on humans and breeds in standing water.

In Asia, dengue is spread from the Aedes albopictus, which has similar breeding and feeding habits to the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

DF is nicknamed 'break-bone fever' and it is therefore not surprising that majority of the patients presented with myalgia or arthralgia along with fever. Fever is the most common presenting symptom followed by headache and musculoskeletal symptoms.)

Clinically, DEN may resemble other infections such as malaria, leptospirosis, and typhoid, and thus, laboratory investigations are required for definitive diagnosis.

Dengue Serology Testing

Dengue viruses are comprised of four closely related serotypes: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Infection with one serotype does not provide protective immunity to the others, and a secondary infection is more likely to result in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

The onset of dengue symptoms is marked by the presence of dengue NS1 antigen in the patient’s serum. NS1 is a glycoprotein that is common to all dengue serotypes and can be used to detect either primary or secondary infections in the earliest stages.

Serology testing for dengue virus-specific antibodies, types IgG and IgM, can be useful in confirming primary or secondary diagnosis. IgM is produced approximately 5 days after infection in both primary and secondary infections, while IgG is produced about 2 to 4 weeks after onset of primary infection and almost immediately after onset of a secondary infection.

dengue NS1 along with anti-dengue IgM/IgG provides the diagnostic potential for both early and late dengue disease.

May 16 National Dengue Day

National Dengue Day is observed in India on May 16 with the recommendation of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to create awareness about dengue; and to intensify preventive measures and preparedness for the control of disease in the country before transmission season starts.

Dengue & COVID-19

A few symptoms of the coronavirus infection and dengue fever overlap with each other. The most common symptom of both diseases is fever. Fever is also one of the most initial symptoms of both diseases. Headaches, muscle and joint pains, and tiredness are some more overlapping symptoms of the two diseases.

However, one can still tell both the diseases apart with the other symptoms

While some symptoms mix and others are exclusive to either disease, both diseases can be life-threatening and require medical attention for treatments.

Modern Wellness Diagnostic Services has State of The Art 24*7 NABL Accredited labs across Mumbai performing blood tests for Dengue Diagnosis. For FREE home collection call or whatsapp 6376916100.

Citations: J Infect Dis, Volume 215, Issue suppl_2, 1 March 2017, Pages S89–S95, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiw649 10.4103/ijmm.IJMM_15_423