Dengue Fever

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the incidence and prevalence of dengue fever. It describes the disease's distribution, both from a seasonal perspective and a geographical perspective. The paper then describes the risk factors that are associated with the disease, according to the the World Health Organization (WHO) and looks specifically at age, genetics, race and social class.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Worldwide Prevalence and Incidence
Seasonal Distribution
Geographic Distribution
Risk Factors

From the Paper:

"Although, dengue is a year-round disease, it is observed to be more rampant during rainy seasons. Discarded solid waste items, such as plastics, glass containers and used automobile tires collect rain water and moisture. These become breeding ground for the Aedes mosquito."
"Aside from seasonal changes, other phenomena are suspected to be associated to dengue. Preliminary studies have shown a link between El Nino Southern Oscillation and the incidence of dengue in countries where the El Nino phenomenon strongly affected weather. Countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago observed an increase in the incidence of dengue during the months that they were affected by El Nino ("El Nino and Its Health Impact")."
"Manifestations of the relationship between global warming and dengue are also available. Global warming can cause dry spells in some countries and increased rain fall and humidity in others. The dry spells reduce small medium bodies of water like springs and ponds to small puddles that become potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Likewise, increased rainfall and humidity also leads to collection of water that affords possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As an example, the aforementioned dengue outbreak in Mexico was attributed to climate changes occurring because of global warming."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Information for International Travel 2008. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 2007
• "Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever." World Health Organization Fact Sheet. April 2002. WHO. 21 September 2007 <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/>.
• "El Nino and Its health Impact." World Health Organization Fact Sheet. 2000 March. WHO. 25 September 2007 <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs192/en/>.
• Halstead, Scott. "More Dengue, More Questions." Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol11 No 5 (2005). 8 pars. 25 september 2007. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no05/05-0346.htm>.
• Price, Daniel M.D. "Dengue Fever." eMedecine. 23 September 2007 <www.emedicine.com/emerg/byname/dengue-fever.htm>.

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