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| India-Pakistan |
| 18 new dengue cases reported |
| 2008-08-12 |
| A total of 42 new cases of dengue have been reported this week, of which 18 were reported on Monday. Seven cases have been declared positive after blood samples were screened, Sindh Health Ministry Dengue Surveillance Spokesman and Deputy Secretary Health Dr Shakil Malik told Daily Times. So far this year, there have been 216 cases of dengue reported at the various health facilities in Karachi. Two patients expired; one died after being infected a second time, added Malik. According to official figures, six cases have been reported at Liaquat National Hospital, three at Dr Ziauddin Hospital, two at Kutiyana Memon Hospital, one at JPMC and one at Civil Hospital, Karachi. Dengue antibodies were found in a blood sample from Abdul Ghaffar, 40, a resident of Korangi. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Dengue is the epidemic you never hear about. Cases have been growing for years at 20% to 30% per annum. The spread of multiple strains means the frequency of DHF is growing even faster. DHF results from being infected by a second strain after previous infection by another strain and has a 2% to 5% fatality rate. I've had dengue and I'm extremely careful not to get a second case. Lathering with mosquito repellant when in Asia. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2008-08-12 02:21 |
| #1 wiki on Denuge This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains (myalgias and arthralgias—severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease) and rashes. The dengue rash is characteristically bright red petechiae and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest; in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body. There may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Other symptoms include * fever; * chills; * constant headaches; * bleeding from nose, mouth or gums; * severe dizziness; and, * loss of appetite. Some cases develop much milder symptoms which can, when no rash is present, be misdiagnosed as influenza or other viral infection. Thus travelers from tropical areas may inadvertently pass on dengue in their home countries, having not been properly diagnosed at the height of their illness. Patients with dengue can pass on the infection only through mosquitoes or blood products and only while they are still febrile. The classic dengue fever lasts about six to seven days, with a smaller peak of fever at the trailing end of the disease (the so-called "biphasic pattern"). Clinically, the platelet count will drop until the patient's temperature is normal. Cases of DHF also show higher fever, haemorrhagic phenomena, thrombocytopenia, and haemoconcentration. A small proportion of cases lead to dengue shock syndrome (DSS) which has a high mortality rate. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-08-12 00:16 |