Photograph by Joseph Mucira
Dengue is said to be one of the most wide-spread vector-borne infections that have manifested its global presence in more than 125 subtropical and tropical countries. It has been one of the most severe ailments that have shown a drastic upsurge in the last few years.
Research has revealed that India has recorded more than 11,500 more dengue cases in 2017 as compared with the previous year. So it is high time that we take actions to diminish its effect, and that can be only achieved when there is proper awareness about the same.
So here an attempt is being made to bring you some relevant information about dengue fever.
Symptoms of Dengue
Dengue happens to be a viral disease that is mosquito-borne and is caused by one of the many viruses that are associated with producing this condition. The mosquitos of Aedes Aegypti genus play an active role in spreading this disease. The initial symptoms of this disease are –
- High Fever
- Headache
- Joint Pains
- Appetite Loss
- Dip in Blood Pressure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin Rash
Usually, the fever does not last beyond a week. But there are also examples when the disease gets more critical and pose life threats. This situation is marked by severely low blood pressure, blood plasma leakage or drop in the level of blood platelets.
Prevention of Dengue
So here are some of the information and measures that you need to keep in mind to prevent getting infected with dengue.
- Dengue outbreaks are more common in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Travellers from such regions can also carry the disease.
- Dengue virus is most active in the later afternoon and early mornings. So you should take apt precautions during these times to not get bitten by them.
- You should try to reduce the number of mosquitos by proper waste disposal, improved water storage and check the water stagnancy levels.
- You should avoid the tight and dark clothing as the mosquitos are always attracted to the darker shades. You should wear loose, long and white clothes that cover the entire body. It is easier for the mosquitos to bite through the tighter clothes rather than the loose ones.
- Mosquito repellents are very efficient, but at the time of usage, you should keep in mind some things like you should never use these for infants who are less than 2 months old. Use repellents with 10 percent DEET for infants who are older than the 2 months. You should not apply these repellents near the mouth or eyes and on the palm. So you should always read the label before application on pregnant women, babies, and breastfeeding women.
- The school and college going students are seen to be the worst affected age group with this disease. Wearing full-sleeved clothes can bring down the number of cases by almost 50 -52 percent of the current occurring.
Apart from the above, you should always buy a digital thermometer online or from a reputed medical store and keep it at home so that you can keep track of body temperature of your family members. You should also not delay consulting with your doctor if high temperature persists for a couple of days. Remember early detection and treatment can lead to better prevention and cure for any disease and dengue is not an exception.
by Akshay Sharma
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