PharmEasy Blog

Stay Safe From Dengue With These Precautions

Monsoon has arrived in India. The rainy season may be vital for the economy (agriculture, irrigation, power generation), but in a tropical country like India, this may also become a season of illnesses. One of the many dangers of the monsoon season is dengue.

Over the last decade, dengue fever has become very prevalent in India. This is a dangerous disease and must not at any cost be undermined as it can claim lives.

So, what is to be done? Let us understand the nature of dengue first.

What is dengue?

Dengue fever is caused by a virus that enters our body when we are bitten by a female Aedes mosquito. In India, there are 4 main variants (called serotypes) of dengue. Some of these serotypes are more virulent and dangerous than others.

However, the symptoms of dengue are the same no matter the serotype. The first signs of dengue are:

What should you do if you notice dengue symptoms?

If you suddenly begin to exhibit the signs of dengue fever speak to your doctor immediately. Your physician will recommend a dengue test

Prompt action is crucial. Dengue fever should be managed instantly with a doctor’s advice. In addition to the treatment prescribed by your doctor, good hydration and rest play an important role in recovery.

If you do not get tested and diagnosed on time, It can become difficult to manage dengue fever as it can progress to a severe form very quickly leading to dengue haemorrhagic fever or DHF and Dengue Shock Syndrome which can be life-threatening. Another risk associated with dengue fever is the sudden drop in blood platelets which can present as bleeding from the nose, bluish-red patches on the skin. Immediate medical care and sometimes hospitalisation may be required in such cases

Also Read: How to Get Rid of Gnats: Your Expert-Approved Guide

What can you do to prevent dengue through safety precautions?

It is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Dengue-causing mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. During the monsoon, rainwater accumulates in potholes, garbage dumps, cracks and crevices around your house. So these are the dengue precautions that you must implement:

It takes a proactive approach towards cleanliness, cooperation and safety precautions to keep the spread of dengue fever in check. But some things are beyond our control. In such cases, if you think you or your loved ones may have contracted dengue, contact a doctor and book a test. 

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

Know How To Avoid, Detect And Fight Dengue Fever!

rashes-on-hand-633x319

Source

Dengue is a common type of viral infection that is spread by mosquitoes and is generally widespread in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Dengue Fever spreads easily in major urban cities with overcrowding and in areas where there is a warm/humid climate.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dengue fever begin 4-6 days after being infected and they could include: Mild symptoms of the same can be mistaken with viral infection or flu. It has to be treated properly because serious symptoms can lead to dengue shock syndrome (DSS) which can cause dengue haemorrhagic fever- damage to lymph and blood vessels, liver enlargement, circulatory system failure, heavy bleeding, shock and death. Dengue fever does not spread from one person to another but infected mosquitoes are the root cause of the widespread. This happens when an infected human is bitten by a mosquito and that infected mosquito bites another human being. The striped mosquito Aedesaegypti flourishes during the rainy seasons in objects that can contain stagnant water like tires, plastic bags and water-filled pots, etc lead to the symptoms.   Read More: The Zika Virus: A Simplified Guide

Treatment

As dengue fever is a virus, there isn’t a specific treatment for it. Dengue treatment should be concerned around providing relief for the symptoms. Your primary physician or a good doctor can provide you with a proper action plan to be followed to help relieve you. Since there isn’t a vaccine for preventing dengue, one can take precautionary measures like using mosquito repellents and creams, ensuring your immediate surroundings are devoid of water-stagnating objects, wearing full-sleeved clothes, etc.If any member of your family suffers from dengue fever, use extra precautionary measures to ensure that other members of your family are protected from getting bitten by mosquitoes. In case, you get a fever after travelling to a tropical area, consult your doctor/physician so that they can determine if you have the fever or any other condition.   Also read: Allergies or Cold? Understanding if Allergies Can Cause a Sore ThroatDisclaimer:  The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

2
1