Monsoon provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. There has been a steep rise in dengue cases across the country, with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, and Hyderabad reporting more than 100 cases daily.
The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in past 15 days post the heavy rainfall in many regions of the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of the world’s population is at risk of developing dengue. It reveals that DENV infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness. DENV, in certain cases, causes more severe cases and even death*.
What is Dengue?
Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. The virus spreads to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. Dengue is not contagious; it does not spread from person to person except when passed from a pregnant person to their child.
What are the symptoms of Dengue?
Most people who suffer from Dengue have mild or no symptoms. Usually, it gets better in 1–2 weeks. But in some cases, it can be severe and lead to death.
Symptoms may include:
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Nausea and vomiting
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Severe headache
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Pain behind the eyes
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Swollen glands
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Muscle and joint pains
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Rash
Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue.
Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away and may include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue, restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, being very thirsty, pale and cold skin, and feeling weak.
People with these severe symptoms should get immediate medical care. After recovery, people who have had dengue may feel tired for several weeks.
How to prevent Dengue?
The best way to keep dengue away is to keep yourself away from mosquito bites as far as possible. Apart from this, below measures can help in preventing dengue.
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Use a mosquito net, mosquito repellent, etc and keep yourself covered.
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Containers that carry water should be covered.
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Drink lot of fluids
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Avoid taking painkillers without doctor’s instruction because they can have a bad effect on the platelet function.
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Do not allow water to stagnate or collect anywhere in and around the house.
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Have a balanced diet and maintain your immunity.
If there is incessant vomiting or any bleeding from any site accompanied with lot of bloating in the stomach or any breathing issues, then one should consider getting to the hospital at the earliest for treatment.
Data Source: https://shorturl.at/cemK8
