Dengue Fever Epidemic

[distortedlink]

On a day in mid December last year I woke up feeling very ill with a flu like symptom, sore throat, headache, severe fatigue and muscle aches. I put it down to the changing weather as it became very cold here in Chiang Mai. So I went back to bed, took flu medication and waited to get better.

By the end of December I wasn't getting any better and since first feeling ill, I had completely lost my appetite and was losing a tremendous amount of weight.

On 27 December I took myself to the McCormack's hospital in Chiang Mai for a check up. After completing several tests, (no blood test), the Doctor informed me that I was suffering from acute indigestion and was prescribed anti biotics and indigestion medicine at a cost of nearly 2000 baht. I was not happy with the hospital`s diagnosies because indigestion couldn't explain why my body was aching so much and the weakness to a point that at times I was almost losing consciousness. I took the prescribed medication, but my condition was worsening and got to a stage where I could no longer get out of bed.

2 January this year, suffering from feeling extremely chilled, muscle pain, severe headache, fever, intense joint pain, dizziness, rashes all over my body and total loss of appetite, a friend took me in his car to the emergency section of the government hospital in San Pa Tong.

The doctor took my blood pressure, temperature and a blood sample. Within half an hour at the hospital the Doctor confirmed that I have Dengue fever and that I am very ill. It was explained to me that I had probably been bitten by the striped variety of the dengue virus-carrying mosquito. I was immediately admitted into the hospital, told that there is no vaccines or cures for this disease and can only be observed to see if I begin haemorrhaging or not as haemorrhaging is a possibility with dengue fever. There is no specific treatment for dengue except for supportive therapy of fluid and electrolyte balance, prevention and treatment of shock and treatment of coagulation disorders.

While in the hospital I was interviewed by a chief government investigating environmental officer who suggested that I had been travelling outside of Chiang Mai and picked up the virus from somewhere outside of Chiang Mai. I explained that I had not been outside of Chiang Mai and mostly at home for the last month. I later confirmed this to environmental officers by catching a stripped mosquito in my bedroom.

After 4 days, luckily I did not haemorrhage and was given the option of either going home to recover or stay in hospital. I opted to go home, but with regular visits to San Pa Tong hospital to monitor my progress. In the meantime to my displeasure, although I knew it had to be done, government environmental officers came inside my home and surrounding areas and fumigated the whole district with mosquito killing chemicals. The smell was obnoxious and I was concerned for my dogs and fishpond stocks, but told I must endure this by law.

My health improved got over the danger fatal period of Dengue fever.

Being a computer junkie I often get mosquito bitten on my legs and ankles where my legs rest under the computer table, it being dark and dusty, a great place for mossies to congregate.

I used to think these bad things only happen to the other fella and that this could never happen to me.

Edited June 9, 2008 by distortedlink

[Jimjim]

There's certain provinces where it's prevalent in Thailand in the last year and Bangkok is one of them. And all of these "somebody told me"s don't exactly sound like great medical advice. How about what the doctors say?

[Chiangmai Foxy]

Here's a weird fact: you can get Dengue only in the daytime. The Dengue carrying mosquito is a very small, striped, fast little bastard active only in the daytime. Those big suckers you zap with electonic tennis rackets are not Dengue carriers. You must be careful if you have any standing water on or near your property. Old fahioned Thai bathrooms with big tubs of water for showering are especially dangerous as are flower pots. You can get packets of mosuito larve killing powder form any hospital for free. You should dump the powder in standing water once a month. There are 4 types of Dengue. If you get one type you become immune to it for life. But there are three other types out there. I got malaria during the Vietnam war and Dengue last year in Rayong. Both are nasty but I'll take Dengue anyday over Malaria.

i had many jabs in england in december,just before arrived for xmas in thailand.

think i had typhoid,dengue,hepatitis,yellow.

so is getting vaccinated for dengue in the uk,not enough to stop the possibility of catching in thailand?

[Jimjim]

Sorry, that's not true. There is no dengue fever vaccine available anywhere in the world.

Ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[marshbags]

I got Dengue fever about 17 years ago, does that still count? Are you only interested in current cases?

If you got it 17 years ago, then you still have it now,so I reckon it counts.I have read it's like Malaria and stays with you.

Apologies but it is not like Malaria and should you get it again it,s from a new infection.

Nothing personal intended f.c.

marshbags

A recent thread on the subject, including a url is as follows.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1978910

Edited June 10, 2008 by marshbags

[ilyushin]

Terrible bone crushing, muscle burning, head throbbing fever. Had it in 1985 while shacked up with a honey at Ngam Dupli ( small dark appartment with klong out back). Worst thing I have had in my life and even takes second to chronic gout. If I would have had a gun close by, I would have cashed in my chips. Heart beats and pain(s) all the way thru the body even to ends of my hair.

Don't wish it on anyone! Maybe a few politicians.

Stay away from shady places ( right) and spray the rooms with Listerine when away or on return. Nasty little "yung ly".

I was told by a Thai doctor it is "farang fever." I fired him. Read up on it and be prepared.

Once is too much.

Edited June 10, 2008 by ilyushin

[fred2007]

does anyone have any idea if the city or countryside is worse for it. and what time of year is worst and what time there are the fewest reported cases?

in Ratchaburi area 4 people died in past few month and about 1400 are in hospital I guess this time of the year would be bad because of all the rain we have

[Tigs]

I have just got over it, having contracted it 2 weeks ago. There is a bit of an epidemic in Trang right now. Sweated buckets (well not really sweated, it was a dry heat right up at 41 C......not good as 42-42.5 can kill you, my wife bless her spent three nights in hospital with me tepid sponging me all night) , felt like s**t, lost 4.5 kilos (thats good), and my arms look like those of a junkies because of all the IV drips i have had in (so many holes/bruises because i kept pulling them out at night because they hurt worse than tooth ache....I am a wimp i know!, only to be bollocked by matron every morning and have another put in). After 1 week, just felt exhausted. No long lasting effects apparently, unlike Malaria. The bad one is the DHF (the haemorrhatic one), that is serious but rare here apparently.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Tigs

[llso]

Lived in Thailand (Not Bangkok) Hua Hin and Buri Ram for nearly 7 years. Never had Dengue, Spent 2 weeks in Village in Buri Ram last year where there was a major outbreak of Dengue. Many people had it mostly under 20 year olds. Apparently older people have immunity to it from earlier exposure . Worse thing to happen to me was getting an insect bite on my ankle that got infected and had fever 105.

LL

[jetjock]

My wife lived in Nakhon Phanom as a child and contracted dengue hemorrhagic fever at the age of 8 and almost died however several of her childhood friends did die from it. She also contracted a milder version several years later. She told me that the doctor that saved her life was considered a top specialist in dengue however he was killed by his jealous wife several years later when he tried to run off with a younger woman. I guess the moral of this story is that jealous wives can be ever bit as deadly as dengue fever!

[Andrew Hicks]

It seems to be a particular type of mosquito. One that is predominately black in colour with white spots on its legs and body.

quoted from wikipedia:

1) Although it may feed at any time, the mosquito bites humans only between a few hours after dawn until an hour or so after sunset.

2) The mosquito's preferred breeding areas are in areas of stagnant water, such as flower vases, uncovered barrels, buckets, and discarded tires, but the most dangerous areas are wet shower floors and toilet tanks, as they allow the mosquitos to breed right in the residence

[/quote

My new Post starts here.

Wiki-wonky!

The dengue mossie eats humans during the day in contrast to the malarial bugger who takes over at dawn and dusk.

Don't get bitten. Be doused in DEET, wear thick clothes all over right down all your limbs and mosquito boots. Yeah right! And die of overheating.

I got bitten in Bangkok and had a fever for nearly a month. It's supposed to be two weeks but maybe I got bitten twice.

You can read about my experience in MY THAI GIRL AND I... a salutary tale.

Once bitten and you come back for more!

Edited July 29, 2008 by Andrew Hicks

[cloudhopper]

We appear to be in the midst of an epidemic up here with over 200 cases reported by the local hospital in the last month.