Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral fever found in tropical and sub-tropical climates of the world. Dengue causes severe flu-like symptoms in those infected, with some people becoming seriously ill, resulting in a number of complications such as bleeding from the nose, organ impairment and/or plasma leakage.
First identified in the Philippines and Thailand in the 1950s, the disease affects all humid and tropical South Asian and Latin American countries.
The disease has no specific treatment, but timely identification of the virus, and access to proper medical care, may reduce fatality rates to under 1%.
Over the last few years, the incidence of dengue has become highly prevalent, with nearly half of the world’s population at high risk of contracting the deadly virus. An estimated 100-400 million people get infected each year.
Here are some major symptoms of dengue fever:
- Fever
- Intense headache
- Body achesJoint pains
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rashes and
- mucosal bleeding
As mentioned earlier, no specific treatment exists for the fever, but the adequate fluid intake and bed rest is important. Most patients recuperate within two weeks, but dengue fever may also turn severe, leading to dengue hemorrhagic syndrome and dengue shock syndrome.
It is important to detect the warning signs such as stomach ache, consistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, exhaustion, and fluid buildup as it may progress to severe dengue. In the event, the fever takes a turn for the worse, aggressive emergency treatment and hospitalization become inevitable.
How to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting dengue fever
You can protect yourself and your family against the fever by taking the following precautions:
- Protect yourself against mosquito bites;
- Prevent mosquito breeding inside and outside your home;
- Avoid visiting areas vulnerable to mosquitoes.
- Apply mosquito repellent, ideally one containing DEET. However, do not use an insecticide for babies under two months of age.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover your arms and legs.
- Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
- Keep containers filled with water—a pot old tires, buckets, or a pool—properly covered as these are the perfect breeding sites for Ae. aegypti and other aedine mosquitoes.
In a Nutshell
Dengue fever should not be taken lightly as it’s a life-threatening disease. If you have fever that doesn’t subside in a few days, it’s better to get yourself tested and consult a qualified physician. And if someone in your home gets infected, you should pull out all the stops to protect yourself and other family members from mosquitoes as dengue fever is contagious. Since there’s no specific treatment for the disease, only plenty of fluid intake and bed rest, as well as strict preventive measures, can assuage the severity of the infection, saving you from hospitalization and even death. Medonline is the platform from where you can get a wide range of medicines at discounted prices.