DENGUE IN PAKISTAN: Journey from a Disease free to a Hyper Endemic Nation

Authors

  • Rafiq Muhammad Khanani Dow University of Health Sciences
  • Afsheen Arif Department of Pathology and Dow Diagnostic Reference and Research Laboratories, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Rasheed Shaikh Department of Pathology, Government of Pakistan.

Abstract

Dengue fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock syndrome have been causing significant and incremental morbidity and mortality in various parts of the world. It was characterized a viral infection in 1906. The earliest known
documentation of symptoms resembling dengue fever was recorded during the Chin Dynasty (AD 265-420) in the Chinese Encyclopedia of Symptoms. The illness was associated with flying insects near water and labeled as “The water poison”.1
Dengue virus is an enveloped positive single strand 11 kilo bases long RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family.2
Four serotypes, Den 1, 2, 3 and 4 are responsible for Dengue viral infection in different regions of the globe and their relative prevalence varies temporally. Clinicopathological events in Dengue viral infection are poorly understood due to its unique
features as all the four serotypes behaved differently in various regions as well as chronological order in which the infection is introduced into a community. Primary infection by any one type leads to mild to moderate disease and confer short-term (approximately 6 months) immunity against all the four types and lifelong immunity to the specific infecting type. However, subsequent ‘secondary’ infection by any other type may cause mild to severe disease which may prove fatal. Several manifestations of dengue viral infection are due to immunologically mediated tissue damage causing thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, increase capillary permeability, multi-organ dysfunction etc. Infection during early pregnancy usually does not
cause any damage to fetus but in later term it infects the infant.3-5

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Author Biography

Rafiq Muhammad Khanani, Dow University of Health Sciences

Chairman Pathology,
Dow University of Health Sciences

Professor and Head Pathology Department,

Dow International Medical College

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Published

2011-12-28

How to Cite

Khanani, R. M., Arif, A. ., & Shaikh, R. . (2011). DENGUE IN PAKISTAN: Journey from a Disease free to a Hyper Endemic Nation. Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (JDUHS), 5(3), 81–84. Retrieved from https://mail.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/1483

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Editorial

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