Dengue symptoms, especially fever, should never be neglected.
Many dengue deaths occur because people seek medical treatment too late.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in all regions of WHO in recent years. Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Persistent vomiting.
- Bleeding gums.
- Vomiting blood.
- Rapid breathing.
- Fatigue/ restlessness.
How serious is it?
- In the world, half a million patients are hospitalised each year, but most people recover after two to seven days. Some develop
- Homemade remedies such as cloves stuck into lemons or oranges may help keep the mosquitoes and even flies away.
- Use netting for windows and gaps
- Cover your window screens and gaps with nets to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- It’s also advisable to cover baby carriers and beds with netting.
- Clear clogged drains
- Clear clogged drains and make sure the water is constantly circulated.
- This will help destroy their natural habitat and provide a safer surrounding on the whole.
- Light up your home and use air-conditioning
- Mosquitoes usually prefer warm, moist and dark places.
- avoid mosquitoes from camping up in your home.
- Wear long clothing
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you happen to be near potential breeding grounds or going out after rain.
- To be extra safe, you can also spray your clothes with natural insecticide to keep the mosquitoes away from you.
How long does it take to recover from dengue?
The time-course of dengue in most individuals is a period of incubation of 10-14 days.
Followed by up to a week of acute symptoms, followed by a few days of recovery; rarely do the symptoms extend beyond two weeks for typical dengue infection.
What is the fastest way to cure dengue fever?
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection.
If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor.
- Papaya. For those who are suffering from dengue, Papaya leaves are the best option to go for. …
- Broccoli. Broccoli is an excellent source of Vitamin K which helps to regenerate blood platelets. …
- Pomegranate. Pomegranate is rich in essential nutrients and minerals that provides the body with required energy. …
- Spinach.
The mosquito – Aedes aegypti
Normally bites primarily during the day.
This species is most active for
- approximately two hours after sunrise
- and several hours before sunset
- but it can bite at night in well lit areas.
- this mosquito can bite people without being noticed because it approaches from behind and bites on the ankles and elbows.
Prevention –
- Try as much as possible to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes – wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved tops and trousers.
- Use a mosquito repellent. Be aware of the biting times of the dengue mosquito – 6 to 9 in the morning and 3 to 7 in the evening.
- Check the environs of your home, workplace, school and tuition class for mosquito breeding sites and clear them immediately.
- Be very cautious if there are construction sites as they are the ideal breeding grounds for these tiny mosquitoes.
Follow-up action
- If a person has had dengue but has travelled, there needs to be immediate mopping up operations of mosquitoes and breeding places, with a rapid response.
- If you have fever, the easiest way to find out whether you have dengue is by getting yourself tested with a Dengue NS1 Antigen Test.
- This blood test has to be done within 18-24 hours of the onset of high fever.
- If the Dengue NS1 Antigen blood test comes out positive, go to hospital immediately and seek advice.
You may not necessarily need to be admitted to hospital
At the end of Day 1 of knowing that you have dengue, a full blood count (FBC) is a must.
The FBC should be repeated at the end of Day 2 as well. This will help to check out the trend of dengue by seeing the rapidity with which the platelets are dropping and the development of the disease.
Eg. If Patient A’s Day 1 platelet count is 400,000 and Day 2 is 200,000, this would be considered rapid, as opposed to Patient B whose platelet count drops from 200,000 on Day 1 to 190,000 on Day 2.
Seeing this rapid trend of Patient A, he/she should be admitted to hospital.
If the platelet count drop is not rapid, the patient can be managed at home but with regular blood checks and being in touch with the doctor.
Just because the fever settles does not mean that you have overcome dengue.
You need to feel fit and not lethargic or weak. Even if the fever has settled but you are not feeling well, you still need to get checked out at hospital.
