A study in Dengue Fever

Thanks for your account. I think most people assume that if they don't have all the symptoms, then they are OK. And, with all the colds that are being passed around, people often attribute it to "catching something" from another person - when, all along, it was a nasty mosquito.
You're in my thoughts, dear friend! Keep posting! If anything, you'll educate others.

Thank you. That is why I started this. I am educated about the island, but completely missed the boat on this one. I thought that perhaps a lot of people may not know much more than 'rumors' about this very challenging disease.

Stay well! and thank you,

Dan

some thoughts about Dengue. There are 4 serotypes of dengue fever, all caused by a variety of flavivirus. It is not susceptible to antibiotics. Symptoms can vary from mild flu-like symptoms ( fever, headache, weakness, nausea) to severe: rash, joint pains, muscle aches, high fever, headaches and a drop in white cell and platelet count. The rash usually starts as tiny red spots on the legs and chest, but can move to the entire body. Symptoms last about 6 to 7 days

The most severe form is hemorrhagic dengue fever, which leads to severe anemia and low platelet count, whcih can cause bruising, and bleeding. Dengue shock syndrome can damage the liver and even lead to death.

There are no medications to treat dengue except for symptomatic treatment. IV fluids, if needed, pain medications (avoid Motrin, Aspirin and other non-steroidals. There are some studies being done on antiviral medicines that seem to block replication of the virus, but not mainstream yet.

main treatment, then, is tylenol and lots of fluids and rest until symptoms resolve, but if vomiting and dehydration get too bad, off the the hospital for IV fluids.

I feel your pain Daniel, I got it at the end of December and it lasted through most of January. It was not fun. It was better then mono, but thats about all I can say.

I always wonders why the island doesn't spray for mosquitoes. I grew up in a very hot tropical humid area and our city always went around spraying 2 to 4 times a year depending on how bad the mosquitoes were and how much rain we got. I know pesticides aren't popular but it seems much better then Dengue, especially when children and the elderly get it the worse. Like the flu, regular Dengue not just the hemorrhagic kind can lead to death.

Hey Dan -- Sorry to hear you're down with dengue. For three months (before Xmas) I've had a rash covering my right hand, a fever that comes and goes, lethargy and lightheadedness, and a persistent cough. I've been assuming it's some sort of stubborn virus; the possibility of dengue never occurred to me. I'm sorry to hear there's no quick fix. I had mono twenty-five years ago and I agree with Betty, this isn't as exhausting, but it has its own challenges. I hope your energy level is restored soon. Thinking of you...

I had Dengue also this winter. The first bout was what seemed a nasty throat infection that went away after about 5 days. Then a couple weeks of anorexia that I didn't recognize as an ongoing symptom eventually led into a full blown, extremely painful Dengue attack with every symptom on the CDC list of things that might occur. Chills, fever, sore throat, migraine, joint pain, organ pain, peticchia rash, peeling feet, etc. Fortunately, the bleeding was limited to my gums and sinuses and didn't turn into the uncontrollable hemorraghic version that can attack your organs and kill you. I was able to self medicate and drink enough fluids despite the most intense sore throat that I didn't get dehydrated and stayed out of the hospital. Exhaustion for several weeks afterwards is normal to expect. Relapses are common... but some people have Dengue and never develop any overt symptoms at all! Children are more likely than adults to die from Dengue, partly because their parents don't realize just how sick they are at first and it gets out of control quickly. It's natural to assume it's any other childhood fever or flu and the child doesn't know how to communicate his symptoms and the degree of suffering he is feeling. An adult who gets a painful version of Dengue recognizes pretty quickly that something is very wrong and they do something about it, force themselves to drink fluids, etc. It's tougher to get a 4 year old to drink enough liquid when his throat hurts and children are more likely to need prompt medical care, IV fluids, etc. Avoid aspirin, as this makes the bleeding symptoms get much worse!

There has been an ongoing epidemic of Dengue on St. Croix since at least last fall and I personally know about 50 people who have had it and hear of them also knowing many other people who have been affected this year. Prior to this year, Dengue seems to have been a rare occurrence on St. Croix and outbreaks were soon put to an end.

About 3-4 years ago, there was an outbreak in William's Delight (one 9 year old girl died before they figured out what the mystery illness was) and they found out where the source of the water was where the mosquitoes were breeding (a pile of old tires) and they took care of it. This year things have gone on so long that by now there are surely mosquitoes all over the island carrying the virus and it will be much more difficult to eradicate the disease. As we have continued to have regular rainfall through the winter months rather than a 2-3 month drought as in many past years, the breeding grounds have not dried up naturally to let the epidemic peter out. There is only one specific type of Egyptian mosquito that transfers Dengue... and they bite in the daytime, not at dusk like most mosquitoes. All it takes is ONE bite from an infected mosquito.

Is there a definitive test for dengue? How would dntw8up (or other inquiring mind) find out if it is dengue vs some other viral disease?

Although, dnt, the cough may be coming from those stogies! 😉

They did do a big spray for skeeters this fallin STX.....I know coz we got behind the fumigation mobile! However I do not think they've sprayed since.
As a kid I remember vast spraying in the one neighborhood we lived in. They'd spray 2-3 times per month depending on how rainy it was.
Even if it didn't rain, they'd still spray due to the fact we lived in a plat w/a huge lake & lots of wooded area, lots of hiding & reproduction places!

There is a test. You have to give a urine sample and they send it off stateside and it takes 5 to 10 business days to get the results back. They get your blood work back quicker. They can look at the blood work to see if the odds are you do have it. Dr Prasad said I had it as soon as he heard my symptoms but I went and got the lab work done, I also had an infection on top of it all.

But the pee test will tell you definitely. When I went to prasad he said the definites are the rash (which usually comes first), sharp eye pain, fatigue, fever varies with different cases, most also experience bad body aches. My fever never went over 101. It just keep going high and then breaking every couple of hours for a couple of weeks. I never experienced nausea, wish I had, only good part about being sick is loosing weight. 😉

They did do a big spray for skeeters this fallin STX.....I know coz we got behind the fumigation mobile! However I do not think they've sprayed since.
As a kid I remember vast spraying in the one neighborhood we lived in. They'd spray 2-3 times per month depending on how rainy it was.
Even if it didn't rain, they'd still spray due to the fact we lived in a plat w/a huge lake & lots of wooded area, lots of hiding & reproduction places!

greets

i remember when living in key west, florida as a youth....those fumigation trucks with the HUGE tanks on the back would come thru the neighborhoods weekly. JAH!!! there was bug fog everywhere....we would all be outside playing and having a great time and our mothers would see the fog coming and call us all inside. we had to wait for 30 minutes after the fog settled before we were allowed outdoors. imagine all the cancer causing chemicals we were breathing in then!!!

hope all who have the fever soon get well.....drink LOTS of water.....

guidance
Sis Irijah

Hey EE!

Another burning question this non-ancestral, non-native Virgin Islander has is, "How do I tell the difference between the ups and downs of Dengue fever fevers and ordinary hot flashes?" 😀

dntw8up,
Ask your husband!

"Is it hot here or is it just me?" 😛

Hi there SistaIrijah!
I remember all too well the same big "fog-tanker trucks" 25 yrs. ago going thru C'sted at night when I worked as a late-night bartender. We could hear them coming and would rush to close up the shutters before they passed...this was where Club 54 is now. It was stinky and noxious for about 10-20 minutes, but then it went away and we never got Dengue! (we might have glowed in the dark tho!)
Best always!

greets sunshine

yes, i was on island as well when they were still fumigating regularly with the tank trucks...if not at work (cough cough hold ya breath) i would race the car trying to beat the truck like a bat out of hell trying to get to the hills......lol...hide in the forest for awhile....

bless
Sis Irijah

Thank you for all of the wonderful people who have provided such solid information on a rather serious island subject. I also apologize for not providing any update, however, that, in and of itself, is part of the study.

Not long after the last posting I did, I 'lost time' due to fevers, sweats, head pain and body pain. On, or just after doing the posting, I felt well enough to go out. I tried to get basic 'living life' things accomplished before the next bout of fever. Unfortunately, I have found that 10-15 minutes of even minor physical activity triggers the fever again......just enough time to get out of the house, but not a good idea to have the fever timer end while driving.

The fevers hit fast and furious, and I only got home after coming close to hitting 1 building and 2 automobiles. The lesson: respect whatever timing seems to be involved in how this pathogen impacts you. I now know that I need to plan on being home within 15 minutes in order to be safe for myself and others. Also, given the increased effort of driving with fever to get home, I seemed to taunt this Dengue strain as I went into a fever several days ago, and it is just breaking up now. I have been awake for 15 minutes, sitting, and the inicative pain in the head is returning, signaling yet another bout of fever.

In between fevers, I have made preparations to get to the store (5 minutes), purchase more water and soup (5 minutes), get gas...as much as I can in one minute, and get home in a total of 16 minutes. If the fever strikes, I will be on the most familiar road to me, and less than 60 seconds from home. Prior to going, Tylenol, water and blankets will be laid out so I can just move back into a place to sleep and stay hydrated.

I believe since first symptoms, this has now been going on for close to six weeks. Interesting, but not something anyone would want to get. I was told by a friend in Costa Rica that quinine water does help a bit, and also changes somehow body scent to reduce incidence of getting bitten again during the illness. Should anyone else feel that they potentially have contracted this, Dr. Cora Christian in Frederiksted is a leading treatment professional as attested to by many.

Fifteen minutes did elapse, the pain in the head is back, and the surreal feverish state has returned.

More later, and again, thank you......

Dan

Lord Dan, No more going out. I will bring you over what you need. Sorry I haven't checked on you.

greets daniel

your bout with dengue seems a bit more serious than most have reasoned about.

an article i read about dengue says that the virus does not respond well to conventional medications and that in fact, they may make it worse.

i did read that pounding 2 papaya leaf (similar to bruising mint) and then squeezing the juice out of the leaf and drinking the juice (straight, no additives) after straining the leaf, will not only increase ones platelet count but lower the fever as well. 2 tablespoons of the juice once a day....do not add anything to it as it will render the juice almost useless.

i know some on here scoff at natural remedies and will only consider conventional medicine, but most herbal remedies are proven to work throughout history, as herbs are the root of modern medicine.

drinking orange juice (helps energy level and urine output during fever) and herbal tea laced with ginger and cardamon (fever reducing herbs) is also said to be beneficial.

of course if you begin to bleed or the fever becomes too painful and does not break, call someone to take you to the hospital.

as a side note, vitamin b complex, taken on the regular, emits a scent from ones skin that chases away mosquitoes.

hope you are soon feeling better daniel, as i know the fever is painful.
drink lots of water too....
taking cool showers and then dousing yourself with witch hazel (letting it dry naturally) is comforting too.
pure organic coconut oil used internally (a tablespoon a day) and externally (as your moisturizer) will aid in keeping you hydrated as well.

blessings and meditations for your wellness continue.

Sis Irijah

Hey EE!

Another burning question this non-ancestral, non-native Virgin Islander has is, "How do I tell the difference between the ups and downs of Dengue fever fevers and ordinary hot flashes?" 😀

greets and good afternoon!!!

hahahaha i feel ya!

hot flashes are hell.

the difference is a fever will register on a thermometer.

hot flashes just make your knees sweat.

HATE EM !!!!

bless
Sis Irijah

I agree. Nuttin is as bad as a good ole dose of hot flashes. And unlike dengue you have them for years.
I know dengue is very bad. knew someone you had to take vitamin b12 shots for dengue.

if someone has a cure for dengue and hot flashes please let me know.

Hello there good people. Although I have not heard of many safe alternatives to hot flashes (though some of the herbal properties of platnts on the island have been used for centuries), I wish you the best. I think I now know what burning up in a heart beat is all about.

As a final chapter.....I do not know when this began....several weeks before my first post, but I am now having less fever and pain, a bit less light headedness, and walked out into the sun for the first time yesterday under my own power. It was wonderful. I got up every half hour for 10 minutes to start muscle recruitment (standard PT use of muscles after long term of non use).

I have learned much from this experience.....it may not be over yet, but at least there is light at the end of that old tunnel finally. These are not doctors' recommendations, however.....

-If your tongue feels fuzzy, and you have odd sensations in your head each time you get tired......be careful. That is how it began long before I totally went down for the count.

-I don't like spraying myself with toxins, but do plan on keeping more covered and using other deterrants such as Avon's Skin So Soft (used in Prince Edward Island.....mosquito capital of the north Atlantic in the summer....used to live there).

-ensure at least every 4-5 days, or after rain, that there is NO standing water near my home.

-get to a doctor BEFORE I can't drive or think. Having delusional dreams about getting to a doctor just don't count.

-Check house screens often. I have a cat that at times re-designs the entries and exits through windows.

-Keep a Gecco in each room. Be kind to it.

-Always drink a lot of water....not soda or caffiene. Hydration here is important whether due to Dengue or just the sun.

Be grateful when I do not have Dengue. I have lived with severe, pervasive and chronic pain. That's okay. Dengue was horrible. More intense and unrelenting than any flu I have ever had.

Best wishes to you all, thank you for such wonderful input when I had no idea of what was happening or likely to occur, and I wish that each of you are fortunate enough to never have to deal with this.

All the best once more,

Dan

Dan,
Glad to see you up and on the mend. But remember, don't overdo it just because you are starting to feel better. It's sneaky, and can have you back down again quickly. Wishing you all the best for a full recovery soon!
Juanita

I spent 3 weeks in the STT hospital with dengue. I walked in with a 104.7 temp and they isolated me with a 24/7 (for the first week) nurse in my room.

It was a horrible experience for me.

I did get quite a bit of reading in during the last week...

My landlords on STJ recounted to me their experiences with dengue after Hurricane Marilyn -- pretty much like Dan's experience, especially the exhaustion. They would feel fine and try to go about daily business, but the "fever timer" would kick in fast. It is a nasty, nasty virus. I get bitten a lot if I don't wear repellent, so thank you, Dan, for a hard-hitting reminder about why I need to wear it every day. Feel better soon!