TheExpatJournals.com

The dengue carrier is a specific type of mosquito. It has a second name I can’t remember, but the first is Aedes, easy to remember as it’s so close to Hades. (sp?…the Biblical word for Hell).
In Costa Rica, people seem to think a B complex vitamin to be the best deterrent. Some swear by garlic, too. It seems incredibly rare that Aedes lives above 4,000 ft, so anyone living at an altitude may be spared. Right now, besides being weak and wearing out relatively quickly, I feel okay.

It turns out that the top CDC Dengue facility is in Puerto Rico and the director was quite generous with his time on the phone. I learned a lot. One thing I did learn from Dr. Beatty (CDC), that I never read anywhere, was that you can expect a lot of hair loss about one month after the onset of fever. It’s not permanent, but apparently is so common that I’m surprised I never read about it anywhere. The reason I called to begin with was because I couldn’t find the answers to certain questions through online research. For example, how long am I infectious to the Aedes? Will this rash ever go away? (Joke, but wondering…) What serotype is most prevalent in Panama right now? Is it true that, right now, I’m immune to all four serotypes?
I learned that right now and for about a month, I am most likely immune to any dengue. Someone else who had it before said the immunity period was 18 months. It’s ironic really, because right now, I’m completely safe from the mosquitoe’s bite, yet am most afraid of them. Hmmm, there must be a lesson in there somewhere.

I learned that the period of being a menace to society is 3-5 days from the onset of fever. So I’m no longer a threat to my fellow man. I learned that Serotype 1 and 2 are most common in Panama right now and that the entire Caribbean Basin seems especially plaqued with Serotype 2. Generally, there is one Serotype that is infecting 90% of the cases with a secondary hitting the other 10%. I learned that it’s a 4-6 year cyclical thing in that once enough people are infected, there is a general immunity and that is when the Serotype that was rare begins to become more generalized because people aren’t immune to it.

Through my online research, I was left with the idea that a second infection would leave me more vulnerable to developing the life threatening hemorrhagic version of the fever. Apparently, that is not the case. The odds of contracting dengue that develops into the hemorrhagic condition is roughly 1% though the stats are very high that those who do are generally experiencing their second infection.

In essence, I could experience what I’ve just come through, called ‘Classic Dengue’ as opposed to the hemorragic or shock syndrome versions, for each Serotype and there are 4 serotypes. However, if what I just experienced was serotype 2, then I am immune to that particular serotype for life.

The Aedes is smaller than the stereotypical mosquitoe, therefore, more difficult to see and certainly more difficult to kill. (Keep that can of Lysol spray handy as it’s the only way I’ve found to kill them!) Seriously, one night during this illness, I walked into the kitchen and there on a white towel was a mosquitoe. I immediately set my water glass on top of him, hard, with the intent to crush. I just left it there and two hours later, when I picked up the glass, the little f**r was still alive! Fortunately, he was fairly easy to kill with a paper towel in his weakened state, nevertheless, amazing that he was alive at all.

The Aedes is a daytime flyer though they seem to have an incredible aptitude of finding their way indoors where dark locations, especially closets, are their preferred hiding spots. Now Dr. Beatty had said to be especially careful during peak times and when I mentioned just before dark, his response was “No, those are the mosquitoes that cause malaria.” Great.

In short, mentally, I feel quite a bit of relief after getting some of the facts straight, but emotionally right now, air conditioning and long sleeves are what chocolate might be to some. BTW, the full name is Aedes Aegypti. And it is hell.