dengue fever?  Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue More... dengue fever?  Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue More... Dengue Fever  What is dengue fever? Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed. Dengue goes by other names, including "breakbone" or "dandy fever." Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence the name breakbone fever. Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and gait. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness. Manifestations include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body. Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all possible signs of hemorrhage. This form of dengue fever can be life-threatening or even fatal. How is dengue contracted? The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease. The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway. More... Strabismus - Causes & treatments  Strabismus or squint, also commonly known as crossed eyes, is a condition in which the eyes don’t look towards an object together. One of the eyes may look in or out, or may turn up or down. This misalignment can be constant, being present throughout the day or it can appear sometimes, such as during stressful situations or illness. Causes of Strabismus There are various types of strabismus. The exact cause is not always known, but some children are more likely to develop it than others. The common possible causes are: * Congenital strabismus - A few people are born with eyes that do not align in the usual way. This is known as congenital strabismus. In many cases, there is a family history of strabismus or the need for spectacles. The eye muscles are generally at fault. Sometimes, a baby has “pseudo squint” which is related to the shape of the face, but any baby with a true strabismus will not grow out of it. * Childhood illness – Strabismus may develop after an illness such as chickenpox or measles. This means that a tendency to strabismus was present but, prior to the illness, the child was able to keep his/her eye straight. * Long sight – Long sightedness can lead to a strabismus developing as the eyes over-focus in order to focus and see properly. If untreated, it can result in a "lazy eye". The most common age for this type of strabismus to start is between ten months to two years, but it can appear up to the age of five years. * Nerve damage – In some cases, a difficult delivery of a baby may damage a nerve which can lead to a strabismus. If not corrected, strabismus can continue into the adult. Most adults having strabismus were born with it. If strabismus does not appear until later in life, it will cause double vision in your eyes. If the eyes of an adult, who did not have strabismus as a child, become misaligned, it can be a sign of a severe condition such as a stroke. How are strabismus treated? There are several ways of treating strabismus, with children needing more than one form of treatment. * Glasses – All children with strabismus need to be tested for glasses or else a lazy eye may develop. * Patching – A child having a lazy eye is required to cover the good eye to make the lazy eye work harder. Covering or patching should always take place when glasses are worn. Children with a slightly lazy eye do not need covering, as the lazy eye improves with spectacle correction alone. * Exercises – It can strengthen the ability of the eyes to work together. This is usually helpful in older children and is commonly used in association with glasses and or surgery. * Botulinum Toxin injection – A child less than a year old may be offered treatment with an injection. It weakens the muscles that pull the eye towards each other. This injection is carried out under general anaesthetic. * Surgery – It is usually needed if the strabismus is very pronounced and is not improved by the proper correction of glasses. The surgery involves weakening or strengthening of the relevant muscles to restore the balance and for getting a good coordination. In a few cases with double vision, prisms are added in the glasses to ease the strabismus symptoms. Strabismus can appear at any age. Around 5% to 8% of children are affected by a strabismus or strabismus-related condition. If a child appears to have a strabismus at any age from six weeks onwards, it is important to seek the immediate assistance of an ophthalmologist in order to prevent any further damage to the eye.