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Healthcare providers asked to look out for dengue symptoms

Dubai - The Dubai Health Authority's Preventive Service Centre on Sunday issued a circular asking all public and private health services to enhance surveillance of dengue fever.

All health practitioners in Dubai have been asked to watch out for possible dengue fever cases that could be imported into the UAE through visitors and travel by residents to endemic areas. 
The Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Preventive Service Centre on Sunday issued a circular asking all public and private health services to enhance surveillance of dengue fever.
The advisory came amidst the increasing cases of dengue fever reported across the globe. "Importation of dengue fever cases is possible through visitors to the country and travel to endemic areas," read the circular.
"As dengue fever presenting symptoms can mimic common febrile illnesses, all practising physicians are advised to consider the dengue fever as a differential diagnosis for acute febrile illnesses," it added. 
Dengue fever is notifiable according to the Communicable Diseases Law 14 for the year 2014. Immediate notification is mandatory to the preventive service centre in DHA. 
The circular read: "Referring to the above subject, dengue fever is the most common viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The global incidence of dengue fever has grown dramatically in recent years, especially in the tropics and sub-tropical endemic regions."
"In addition, there has been an observed increase in other viruses transmitted by Egyptian zebra mosquitoes such as the Zika virus, Yellow fever virus and Chikungunya virus. Dengue represents a major health burden in countries with established endemic transmission and has become a leading cause of hospitalisation and death in those countries."
Globally the number of cases reported increased from 2.2 million in 2010 to 3.2 million in 2015. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever only supportive treatment but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below one per cent.
"Sometimes, symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection," according to a general practitioner who did not wish to be named. "Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults."
He said, however, serious problems can develop. "These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterised by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death. This is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS)."
People with weakened immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Doctors have also been asked to investigate cases according to the clinical pathway and notify the respective health department after collecting the sample as suspected dengue fever. The status will be confirmed on receipt of the laboratory test.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com