What is dengue fever?

       

   

Dengue fever, also known as break bone fever is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness. There are four different viruses that can cause dengue fever, all of which spread by a certain type of mosquito.

     Dengue fever can vary from mild to severe; the more severe forms include dengue shock syndrome and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Patients who develop the more serious forms of dengue fever usually need to be hospitalized.

        There are currently no vaccines for dengue fever. The best way to prevent the disease is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes altogether. Although there is no certain treatment for dengue, it can be treated as long as it is caught before developing into dengue shock syndrome or dengue haemorrhagic fever.