Dengue Fever is ... no fun at all. You get this disease
in the tropics, and it is carried by mosquitoes. Sometimes it is called Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever, and it can be life threatening. The World Health Organization fears
this disease more than malaria, which is saying something, and estimates there are
about 50 million cases per year.
Symptoms include severe
headache, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, red rashes on the limbs and chest, and a very
high fever in the 102 - 107 degree range. It can also include internal bleeding, and
bleeding from orifices and vomiting. Seriously, no
fun.
The sickness usually lasts about a week. There is no
cure and no vaccine. Treatment includes just keeping the body hydrated, the fever down
and the blood plasma replaced, then letting the disease take its
course.
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