The Chughtai Lab in Lahore, Pakistan, has discovered a new way to detect the dengue virus in human blood. The antigen detection technology developed by a doctor could save lives and prevent serious illnesses from the mosquito-borne virus that infects millions of people every year, according to an article published on the Daily Times website in February 2017.
The antigen
detection technology will help eliminate dengue as it will save thousands of
people who die every year due to dengue and its complications.
What are
dengue virus infections?
Dengue is a
mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by any one of four related dengue
viruses. They are transmitted to people by Aedes mosquitoes, mainly during
daylight hours.
Dengue
usually causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle and joint
pains, and it occasionally causes life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever
(DHF). According Lahore Chughtai lab DHF may result in shock or death if
not adequately treated in time.
Who is at
risk of infection?
Being in an
endemic area (which is defined as a region with at least 50–100 cases per
100,000 population), engaging in mosquito control activities, or staying near
contaminated water sources can put you at risk of getting dengue fever.
One of those
infections comes from a virus and only takes one bite to give you sickness.
Dengue Virus: NS1 Ag Anti-serum Paper Chromatography with Image enhanced
detection developed in our Chughtai Lab Lahore Pakistan.
Symptoms
and Complications
Dengue virus
infection is an acute febrile illness characterized by retro-orbital pain,
fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. The most common complication of dengue
fever is bleeding disorders due to platelet dysfunction.
Dengue
hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is mainly seen in children
under 15 years old. Severe dengue cases can lead to shock and death, especially
in patients with underlying illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
or impaired immune system.
What are
the treatment options?
If a dengue infection is suspected, it's essential to see a doctor as soon as possible. Can treat dengue fever with rest and fluids. Medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) are used to lower fevers and relieve headaches and muscle pain. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics if dengue leads to severe infection or shock.
Are there
preventive measures?
The dengue
virus is usually transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include
fever, headache, muscle, joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Most
dengue cases are mild, with symptoms lasting for a few days to two weeks.
But in some
instances, dengue can result in severe disease requiring hospitalization. There
is no vaccine available for dengue prevention yet. Therefore there are no
preventive measures except avoiding mosquito bites as far as possible.
Can I get
infected with dengue if I travel to areas where dengue is present?
Yes, you can
become infected with the dengue virus if you are in an area where it is
circulating but do not experience any symptoms of illness. The amount of virus
needed to cause infection is very small.
So there may be no symptoms if you get bitten by a mosquito that carries dengue while in an endemic area; even though you have no symptoms, you still can get infected with dengue and transmit it to other people.
How can I
prevent infection with dengue viruses?
People with
these pre-existing conditions cannot be treated at the Online Lab Test in
Pakistan. Ask your doctor if an online
lab test in Pakistan is proper for you. If you have recently been to an
area where dengue viruses are endemic.
You should
know that travel does not necessarily put you at risk for dengue infection.
However, most travelers experience mild symptoms from their exposure and then
recover completely within two weeks, with no lasting complications or increased
susceptibility to future infections.
Can I be
infected with more than one type of dengue virus during an infection?
Chughtai
lab online reports: Recently,
we noticed that most of our patients were infected with more than one type of
dengue virus during an infection.
However,
only one serotype, four distinct genotypes, and multiple lineages (subtypes)
exist among all dengue viruses. The virus-antibody reaction plays a role in
determining if it can distinguish different strains of a serotype infecting a
single individual from each other or not.