8 Preventive Measures For Dengue That Are Simple & Effective

Introduction

Dengue fever is a tropical-borne disease characterized by mosquito bites and the dengue virus. The breed of mosquito called Aedesaegypti, which survives only in tropical and sub-tropical areas throughout the year- facilitates transmit of the virus. To know the ways to avoid dengue, it is important to know that these mosquitoes are said to be prevalent a lot more during the day than at night. Hence, the chances of being bitten by this mosquito are high during the day. Dengue spreads when an affected (dengue) individual is bitten by a mosquito and that mosquito bites another individual.

Dengue can lead to symptoms like high body temperature (as high as 104 °F), intense joint & muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, nausea and/or vomiting, severe headaches, etc. There are no proper vaccinations for dengue and all the vaccines are in the development phase. This poses a significant threat to people and for treating an individual affected by dengue. The treatment of dengue relies on providing relief for the symptoms more than getting it treated with heavy medication.

Due to all these issues, adopting ways to avoid dengue fever can benefit a lot more than trying to cure it.  

8 Ways to Avoid Dengue Fever Are:

1. Reduce Mosquito Habitat:

The mosquitoes which breed dengue thrive in stagnant water containing objects like tires, plastic covers, flower pots, pet’s water bowls, etc. Reducing the habitat available for these mosquitoes (by getting rid of stagnant water to breed) can help prevent dengue.

2. Stay in well-screened houses:

Ensure that the windows are closed properly or the door screens do not contain any holes. This would eliminate the chances of any mosquitoes entering the house. Mosquitoes responsible for spreading vector-borne diseases are most active between the time period dawn to dusk. Keep all your windows and shutters closed during this time.

3. Use Mosquito Repellents:

Using mosquito repellents, especially in tropical areas with high populations and crowds, can help repel mosquitoes from biting you. Apply mosquito repellent creams on your body when travelling to tropical destinations and even when you are indoors. For children or infants, you can purchase mosquito patches, mosquito bands and mosquito wipes that are sold by reputed skincare brands in your country.

4. Wear Protective Clothing:

In order to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, one can go for long-sleeved clothes and full pants with socks & covered shoes. It is advisable to go for this kind of protective clothing specifically in dengue-infested areas.

5. Sleep Under Mosquito-net:

Sleeping under the mosquito net can provide you and your children a double layer of protection from being bitten by mosquitoes.     

6. Do not let Water Stagnate Anywhere

Stagnant water that has not been emptied out leads to mosquito breeding. Empty out flower pots, clean and change water bowls of your pet, refrain from keeping any water plant in your household, check to see if septic tanks, water pipes are in perfect order and keep covered any vessel or drum that is specifically used to store water.

7. Keep Your House Airy and Well-Lit

Mosquitos are commonly frequent dark and damp places. To prevent mosquitos from entering your room or house, make sure it is filled with sunlight. Additionally, on alternate days you can light camphor for about 30 minutes in your room as it has the ability to kill all kinds of pests.

8. Time Your Outings

It is not necessary that you will catch dengue fever in your home only. It can even happen during your camping trip on a humid day or when you are out for a walk in the woods on a rainy day. Time your trips depending on the weather and take all mosquito repellent arsenal with you starting from creams to netted sleeping bags and so on.

High grade fever with the possibility of this being a dengue fever if associated with some of the warning signs like bleeding gums or nose, severe abdominal pain, vomiting for at least three times within the past 24 hours requires immediate medical attention. Do visit an emergency room if you encounter any of these symptoms associated with fever.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Read More: 5  Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites & Mosquito Control

It is always advisable to consult your physician or a doctor as one of the important ways to avoid dengue fever when you feel you have the symptoms of dengue fever. The doctor would be able to diagnose whether you have dengue fever or symptoms of some other issues with the help of some blood tests. Having a dengue-affected member in the house can increase the chances of other members getting the fever.

In such cases, family members need to be highly vigilant and prevent everyone from getting bitten by mosquitoes. There is no cure for dengue as such and severe cases can even lead to death. Following simple steps to prevent yourself and your family members from being bitten can help reduce the risk of being affected by dengue fever. You should also take the dengue fever vaccine whenever it is available in India.

The three phases of dengue include febrile, critical, and recovery.

During the febrile phase, a sudden high-grade fever of approximately 40 C occurs that usually lasts two to seven days. The life threatening complication of dengue that is low BP starts after fever reduces.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Disclaimer:  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.

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