A mosquito might seem easy to swat away, but don\u2019t let its small size fool you\u2014it is not to be underestimated! In Malaysia, dengue fever is an infectious disease that requires vigilance year-round.<\/p>\n
Dengue fever is classified as a \u201cneglected tropical disease\u201d affected by climate change and is one of the illnesses defined by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a \u201ctropical disease that must be eradicated.\u201d It is caused by the dengue virus and transmitted to humans primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. While some infections are asymptomatic, severe cases known as \u201cdengue hemorrhagic fever\u201d can be fatal. The incubation period\u2014the time from infection to the onset of symptoms\u2014ranges from 2 to 14 days. Even if some infected individuals do not develop symptoms, those who do may experience a high fever of 38\u00b0C or higher, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and occasionally a rash. While there is no specific antiviral cure for dengue, preventive vaccination and symptomatic treatment are vital. With proper care to manage fever and pain, most patients recover within about a week. The best way to prevent dengue is to avoid mosquito bites. Protect yourself by covering exposed skin, staying away from standing water, and using insect repellent.<\/p>\n
The initial symptoms of dengue, such as fever and body aches, are very similar to those of a common cold or the flu. It is dangerous to self-diagnose based on these symptoms alone. If you experience such symptoms, please consider the possibility of dengue as well as the flu, and visit a medical facility as soon as possible for a professional diagnosis and proper treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2317,"template":"","class_list":["post-2353","medical-articles","type-medical-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n