Al een hele poos niets laten horen....
eerst was ik in singapore voor een endoscopie, om nu toch eens echt goed te onderzoeken waarom ik al zo lang diaree heb....hoera er kwam iets uit, Tropical Sprue, een dikke antibiotika kuur van 2 weken, en dan moest het gebeurd zijn....
Helaas pindakaas kregen zowel arjen als ik, heel solidair, daarna Dengue fever, hieronder wat info...
What is Dengue fever?
Dengue fever (pronounced Den-gay) is a viral infection caused by the female mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). Dengue fever occurs in tropical and sub-tropical regions and usually increases in the hot and humid months. Dengue fever is not a new disease. It was discovered several hundred years ago. In recent years, dengue fever has become a major international public health concern.
Dengue fever nicknamed "breakbone fever" because dengue patients usually express contorted movements due to intense joint and muscle pain. Benjamin Rush from Philadelphia, US, first described "breakbone fever" in 1780. Slaves who developed dengue fever in the West Indies were said to have "dandy fever" because of their posture and gait.
Dengue fever lasts for approximately 7 days, despite its sudden and acute onset. However, extra precautions should be taken after the recovery period. These precautions will help prevent severe illness from occurring in some people, such as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). These illnesses are potentially lethal and are today the leading cause of childhood mortality in several Asian countries.
How is Dengue fever transmitted?
Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans (host) through the bites of the female striped Aedes aegypti mosquito (vector). This variety of mosquito breeds easily during the rainy seasons but can flourish in peridomestic fresh water, e.g. water that is stored in plastic bags, cans, flowerpots and old tires. The dengue virus is transmitted to its host during probing and blood feeding. The mosquito may carry the virus from one host to another host and the mosquito is most active in the early morning and later afternoon. A mosquito bite can cause the disease. Incubation period occurs when the viruses has been transmitted to the human host. The period ranges from 3 to 15 days (usually lasting for 5-8 days) before the characteristics of dengue appear. During incubation time, the dengue viruses multiply.
What are the characteristics of Dengue fever?
The Dengue virus travels to various glands in the body where it multiples. It then travels to the bloodstream, affecting some changes to these blood vessels. The virus may cause the blood vessels to swell and leak. The spleen and lymph nodes may also become swollen. Patches of liver tissue may die. Furthermore, a process known as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs. During this process, chemicals used to clot blood are used up, and thus severe bleeding (hemorrhage) occurs internally as well as the skin.
The signs and symptoms of Dengue fever are as follows:
- High fever (104 F, 40°C)
- Chills
- Headache
- Red eyes, pain in the eyes
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Deep muscle and joint pains (during first hours of illness)
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low blood pressure and heart rate
- Extreme fatigue
Basically, dengue commences with high fever and other signs as listed above for 2 to 4 days. Then, the temperature drops rapidly and intense sweating takes place. After about a day with normal temperature and a feeling of well-being, the temperature rises abruptly again. Rashes (small red bumps) show up on the arms, legs and the entire body simultaneously along with fever. However, rashes rarely occur on the face. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet may be swollen and bright red. Although the patient may feel exhausted for several weeks, most cases of dengue take approximately one week to recover. Once a person recovers from dengue, he or she will have antibodies in their bloodstream which will prevent them from having a relapse for about a year.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment to shorten the course of dengue fever. Medications are given to alleviate the signs and symptoms. Aspirin should not be given to patients. It will cause severe bleeding. Hence, it is advisable to take paracetamol to relieve muscle and joint aches, fever and headache. The patient may be required to be sponged down with water at room temperature using a wet, squeezed out towel for about 20 minutes at a time. This will help to help lower the high temperature. Ice water should not be used for this purpose. However, bed rest is essential to a speedy recovery and the patient should consume plenty of water which will help to alleviate the illness. Patients should be kept in a room that has screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering or else under mosquito netting until the second period of fever has subsided. Hence, mosquitoes cannot bite them. If the patient is bitten then the dengue virus may be transmitted to the mosquito and then to another host.
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Nou ja, dat was dus het hele verhaal......en ik zal je vertellen, je bent zo ziek als een hond. Nu de 8e dag, dus recovery fase, wel HONDSMOE en JEUK
volgende keer hopelijk fully recovered!
