In Reply to: no real way to prevent dengue posted by Cinta_Indonesia on Wednesday, 14. February 2007 at 23:12 Bali Time:
I am very sorry for your friend.
I would like to point out that Dengue Fever is not necessarily fatal. Although there is no specific treatment for it, most people who contract it recover after a couple of weeks.
It is important to keep up the fluids, rest in bed & take paracetamol or ibuprofen for the fever. Aspirin should not be taken.
"Symptoms of typical uncomplicated (classic) dengue usually start with fever within 5 to 6 days after you have been bitten by an infected mosquito and include
High fever, up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
Severe headache
Retro-orbital (behind the eye) pain
Severe joint and muscle pain
Nausea and vomiting
Rash
The rash may appear over most of your body 3 to 4 days after the fever begins. You may get a second rash later in the disease.
Symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever include all of the symptoms of classic dengue plus
Marked damage to blood and lymph vessels
Bleeding from the nose, gums, or under the skin, causing purplish bruises
This form of dengue disease can cause death.
Symptoms of dengue shock syndrome--the most severe form of dengue disease--include all of the symptoms of classic dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, plus
Fluids leaking outside of blood vessels
Massive bleeding
Shock (very low blood pressure)
This form of the disease usually occurs in children (sometimes adults) experiencing their second dengue infection. It is sometimes fatal, especially in children and young adults." (from NIAID website)