What Is Dengue And Why Is It A Serious Disease?
Dengue Is A Viral Infection Transmitted Mainly By The Aedes Aegypti Mosquito. It Can Cause High Fever, Severe Headache, body aches, and weakness. Most Patients Recover, But Some Develop Severe Dengue With Bleeding, Shock, organ involvement, and potentially life-threatening complications.
Why Is Dengue Becoming An Increasing Health Problem?
Dengue Transmission Is Influenced By Mosquito Breeding, Urbanisation, climate, and rainfall. In India, Cases Commonly Increase During And After The Monsoon. Importantly, Dengue Is Caused By Four Serotypes-denv-1, Denv-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
Can A Person Get Dengue More Than Once?
Yes. Infection With One Serotype Provides Long-term Immunity Mainly Against That Serotype But Only Partial Protection Against The Others. A Subsequent Infection With A Different Serotype Can Sometimes Be More Severe.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Severe Dengue?
Persistent Vomiting, Severe Abdominal Pain, Bleeding From The Nose Or Gums, Blood In Vomit Or Stools, Extreme Weakness Or Restlessness, Breathing Difficulty, Drowsiness And A Sudden Fall In Blood Pressure Are Warning Signs. Patients With These Symptoms Require Urgent Medical Assessment.
Can Dengue Be Prevented Without A Vaccine?
Yes. Mosquito Control Remains Extremely Important. Remove Stagnant Water Around Homes, Use Mosquito Repellents And Screens, Wear Clothing That Covers The Arms And Legs, And Prevent Mosquito Breeding. Vaccination Does Not Replace Mosquito-Control Measures.
Is The Dengue Vaccine Safe?
Clinical Studies Have Shown An Overall Acceptable Safety Profile, But, As With Other Vaccines, Adverse Reactions Can Occur. Post-marketing Surveillance Has Identified Rare Serious Allergic Reactions, Including Anaphylaxis, Making Vaccination In An Appropriate Medical Setting Important.
How Is Qdenga Given?
The WHO-recommended primary schedule is two injections, Three Months Apart. If The Second Dose Is Delayed, The Series Does Not Need To Be Restarted; It Should Be Given At The Earliest Opportunity.
Who Currently Recommends Qdenga?
Who Recommends Tak-003 For Children Aged 6-16 Years Living In Areas With High Dengue Transmission Intensity. Who Does Not Currently Recommend Routine Programmatic Use In Children Below 6 Years.
Does The Vaccine Completely Prevent Dengue?
No. Qdenga Does Not Prevent Every Dengue Infection. Its Benefit Is Greatest In Appropriate Populations And High-transmission Settings. Therefore, Even Vaccinated Individuals Should Continue Mosquito-bite Prevention.
Does A Person Need A Dengue Antibody Test Before Vaccination?
Who Does Not Recommend Routine Pre-vaccination Screening To Identify Seropositive Individuals When Tak-003 Is Being Used In High-transmission Settings. The Decision Should Nevertheless Follow The Approved Indication And Local Vaccination Recommendations.
Can Adults Take The Dengue Vaccine?
The Answer Depends On The Age Indication Approved By The Country’s Regulator And The Individual’s Circumstances. WHO’s Current Programmatic Recommendation Is Specifically Focused On Children 6-16 Years In High-transmission Settings. Therefore, Adults Should Not Assume That Vaccination Is Routinely Indicated Simply Because They Live In A Dengue-endemic Area.
Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh
Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.
