DENGUE FEVER

• Dengue Fever


  Also known as Breakbone Fever, Hemorrhagic Fever, Dandy Fever, Infectious Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Dengue Fever


  An acute febrile disease caused by infection with one of the serotypes of dengue virus
• Etiologic Agents


  • Dengue Virus Types 1, 2, 3, & 4
  • Chikungunya Virus
• Mode of Transmission


  Bite of female infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
• Incubation Period


  3 to 15 days
• Period of Communicability


  Unknown, presumed to be on the 1st week of illness (when the virus is still present in the blood)
• Human-to-human spread of dengue has not been recorded, but people are infectious to mosquitoes during the febrile period
• Clinical Manifestations


  • Herman's sign (maculopapular rash with patches of normal skin) - pathognomonic sign
• Febrile/Invasive Stage


  1. High fever (39-40 C)

  2. Abnormal pain

  3. Headache

  4. Later flushing
• Toxic / Hemorrhagic Stage

  1. Lowering of temperature

  2. Severe abdominal pain

  3. Vomiting

  4. Melena

  5. Hematemesis
• Convalescent / Recovery Stage

  1. Generalized flushing with areas of blanching

  2. Appetite

  3. BP stable
• Diagnostic Tests


  • Tourniquet test (Rumpel - Leede Test)
  • Platelet count (decreased)
  • Hemoconcentration (increased of at least 20%)
  • Occult blood
  • Hemoglobin determination
  • Dengue NS1 Test (confirmatory)
• Treatment Modalities


  • Give analgesic (Don't give Aspirin)
  • Rapid replacement of body fluids
  • Oxygen Therapy
  • Oral Rehydration Solution
  • Blood Transfusion (for severe bleeding)
  • Sedatives
• Nursing Management


  • Patient should be kept in mosquito-free environment
  • Monitor VS
  • Provide periods
  • Nose bleeding (apply ice bag on the forehead and at the bridge of the nose)
  • Watch out for: signs of shock
  • Diet: Low fat, low fiber, non-irritating, non-carbonated
• Prevention & Control


  • Health education
  • Early detection and treatment of cases
  • Treat mosquito nets with insecticides
  • House spraying
  • Avoid too many hanging clothes
  • Case finding