What Is Vaccination?
A vaccine is a medicine that's given to help prevent a disease. Vaccines help the body produce antibodies. These antibodies protect against the disease.
Vaccines not only help keep your child healthy, they help all children by stamping out serious childhood diseases.
Why do we need vaccines? What is immunization? What is immunity?
Vaccines are medications that boost our ability to combat off certain diseases. Many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in unimmunized individuals (Table 1). Prior to the development of vaccines, these diseases disabled or killed millions of children. Many people living in developed countries today do not appreciate the value of vaccines because the successful use of vaccines has almost eradicated many of these diseases. These diseases are still dangerous and can kill people who are not adequately immunized.
Vaccines are medications that boost our ability to fight off certain diseases. Many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in unimmunized individuals (Table 1). Prior to the development of vaccines, these diseases disabled or killed millions of children. Many people living in developed countries today do not appreciate the value of vaccines because the successful use of vaccines has almost eradicated many of these diseases. These diseases are still dangerous and can kill people who are not adequately immunized.
Vaccines are medications that boost our ability to fight off certain diseases. Many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in unimmunized individuals (Table 1). Prior to the development of vaccines, these diseases disabled or killed millions of children. Many people living in developed countries today do not appreciate the value of vaccines because the successful use of vaccines has almost eradicated many of these diseases. These diseases are still dangerous and can kill people who are not adequately immunized.
How Do Vaccines Prevent Illness?
Vaccines trigger the body's immune responses to harmful viruses or bacteria so that the body can build up a resistance to that virus or bacteria. Learn more about how vaccines work to immunize people against illness.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever, caused by a group of viruses transmitted through mosquito vectors, manifests as an acute ailment with sudden and typically mild onset. Its symptoms often encompass headaches, fever, fatigue, severe joint and muscle discomfort, swollen lymph glands (known as lymphadenopathy), and skin rashes. The hallmark "dengue triad" includes the presence of fever, rash, and headache, along with other bodily pains, making it a distinctive feature of dengue. Dengue, pronounced DENG-gay, primarily afflicts individuals with diminished immune defenses. This viral malady derives from four distinct serotypes, allowing the potential for recurrent episodes of dengue fever. However, an initial encounter with dengue engenders lifelong immunity to the specific serotype responsible for the infection. The nomenclature for dengue also includes aliases such as "breakbone fever" or "dandy fever," which harken to the contorted postures and gait of those afflicted by intense joint and muscle pain, especially evident in the name "breakbone fever." Historical accounts indicate that in the West Indies, slaves who contracted dengue were referred to as having "dandy fever" due to their distinctive physical presentations.
What Areas Are at High Risk for Contracting Dengue Fever?
The risk of contracting dengue fever is notably high in specific geographical regions. Dengue is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Outbreaks have occurred in the Caribbean, including regions like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Central America. Additionally, instances of dengue have been imported by travelers returning from regions with widespread dengue prevalence. These areas include Tahiti, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies, India, and the Middle East. Dengue fever is common and may be on the rise in Southeast Asia, with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia reporting increased cases. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 50 million cases of dengue fever are recorded annually, with 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever necessitating hospitalization. It's noteworthy that nearly 40% of the global population resides in areas endemic to dengue.
How Is Dengue Contracted?
Dengue is primarily contracted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, recognized by its striped appearance, which has previously fed on an infected individual. This mosquito species thrives during rainy seasons and can breed in stagnant water reservoirs. Importantly, a single mosquito bite can transmit the dengue virus. It is imperative to clarify that dengue is not contagious between humans, and transmission occurs exclusively through the intermediary of a mosquito, from one person to another.