Dengue: Symptoms & Treatment

Much has been heard about the dengue epidemic that has reached the Southeast in recent months. Newspapers and magazines constantly announce new cases and deaths from disease.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, after having bitten an infected person sick. There are basically two types of dengue: the classic and hemorrhagic. Generally, when first infected, the individual contracts the dengue fever. In a second infection, there is an increased risk of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is much more serious and can lead to death.

Symptoms appear 3 to 15 days after contamination. In dengue fever, the main symptoms are high fever, muscle aches and joint pain, pain behind the eyes and severe headache. It can also be bleeding gums and nose, red spots in the body and lack of appetite.

If the person lives in an epidemic zone or knew people in the neighborhood have contracted dengue fever, she should seek a doctor or a clinic to obtain medical advice. Treatment should be based on bed rest and fluid replacement. Thus, the infected person should drink plenty of water, juices and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. For pain and fever, should take an analgesic-antipathetic paracetamol-based. Drugs based on aspirin should be avoided because they increase the risk of bleeding.