Dengue is one of the most common diseases to plague the people of India. Dengue is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is caused by one of the four dengue viruses. Once you’re infected with the dengue virus, you develop resistance against it and are immune to it for the rest of your life. However you can still be infected by the other three viruses. It’s also possible to get infected by all 4 viruses in your lifetime. The virus’s symptoms may start appearing within 3-4 days of it entering your body and stay till about at least 10 days.
The symptoms include the common ones such as fever, nausea, vomiting, body ache, fatigue as well as redness and rashes and mild bleeding from the mouth and gums. The symptoms range from mild to severe depending upon your immunity and the severity of the infection. Getting your blood tested is the only one way to diagnose a patient for Dengue.
A more severe form of dengue fever is dengue hemorrhagic fever, which begins much like the “mild” form but then progresses to symptoms that can include nosebleed and signs of bleeding under the skin, known as petechiae. This form of dengue can be fatal. The more severe versions of Dengue need more attention and sometimes the patient needs to be hospitalized. The patient may need IV drip hydration, blood pressure control, blood transfusions and platelets transfusions.
Dengue is a growing threat to public health in India and is thought to kill at least 20,000 people a year, while infecting many millions more. India suffers particularly from dengue, especially during the monsoon period. The puddles of still water in the cities become breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito, the vector responsible for spreading the illness. There is a misconception that all mosquitoes only breed in dirty, stagnant water. In fact, the dengue mosquito also breeds in water that is clean enough to drink.
Prevention is always better than cure and in the case of Dengue this statement holds true. While there is no vaccine for dengue yet, so the best way is to avoid mosquito bites and areas heavily populated with mosquitoes. It is a wise idea to cover your windows with anti-mosquito nets and keep the doors closed especially during dusk. If you can’t stop the mosquitoes from entering your home, use a mosquito net while sleeping.
India has the world’s highest dengue burden, with 34% of the dengue cases in the world occurring in India. Rather than 20,000 annual cases it is estimated that 5.8 million Indians suffer from dengue every year. The disparity in cumbers is due to the fact that many cases are unreported or treated in private hospitals. Cases of dengue fever usually rise during and just after the rainy season, or June through October.
Here are a few measures, which can help to avoid dengue:
- The best way to guard against the disease is to make sure there are no containers outside the house such as on a balcony or in a garden where rain water can collect. Hygienic surroundings are less likely to breed mosquitos. So don’t let trash like tires, tubes, and coconut shells sit outside the house.
- If you do have pots of water, be careful not to leave them uncovered: Keep a lid on buckets and especially overhead water tanks. Check that the water emitted from air conditioners does not collect and become a breeding place for mosquitos. If you do keep potted plants, ensure that water does not accumulate in the pot.
- Unlike other mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti is a daytime feeder, meaning it’s important not to become exposed at peak biting times in the early morning and just before dusk.
- The mosquito generally bites below the knee, so wear clothes that at least cover your calves, ankles and feet. Make sure children going out wear clothes that cover their arms, legs and feet completely. You could also use mosquito repellent creams and lotions on exposed skin, and sprays on clothes for extra protection. One can also use mosquito-repellent patches and mosquito nets when sleeping.
- Dengue, also known as “break bone fever” causes very severe joint and muscular pain. Consult a doctor if you have any symptoms of dengue such as fever, severe headache particularly in the forehead, nausea or vomiting.
In more than 90% of the cases, dengue is treatable. There isn’t any treatment for the virus, but because the patient’s platelet count can drop significantly – in some cases causing fatal internal bleeding – they must be closely monitored by a doctor. Medicines can be given for other accompanying infections like fever and relief from pain. It is also important that dengue patients stay hydrated at all times.
It’s best to stay smart and avoid mosquito bites to stay away from dengue. If you or a loved one is suffering from Dengue, get in touch with our doctors for further assistance. Please find below website details:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/patients/makeanappointment.html
