Final answer:
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by high fever, intense headaches, rash, and muscle and joint pain. Severe cases can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Supportive care is provided for treatment and vector control is crucial to limit the impact of the disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus. It is characterized by high fever up to 40 °C (104 °F), intense headaches, rash, nose or gum bleeding, muscle and joint pain, and a feeling as if the bones are breaking. In severe cases, it can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life-threatening.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever; instead, supportive care is given to manage the symptoms. Diagnostic tests include serologic testing, ELISA, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of blood. Vector control is the key to limiting the impact of the disease.