Dengue fever is a major threat and the number of reported cases has been constantly increasing. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness triggered by one of the four associated dengue viruses. The fever is transferred by Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in the peri-domestic environment. It is also known as “break-bone” fever as it often causes severe joint and muscle pain which feels like bones are broken. Medical experts have documented dengue fever for more than 200 years.
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Sign and Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Symptoms may arise up to 7 days after you’ve been bitten by a mosquito that bears the virus. There you will feel tired and weak for 2 or 3 days, and you will have:
- High fever and shivers
- Extreme headache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Pain when you move your eyes
- Severe pain in your back, legs, joints, and muscles
- Rash on your face
If you’ve these symptoms, you may feel better for a day, and afterwards the fever and rash keep coming back, this time especially on your chest, back, arms, and face.
Treatment of Dengue Fever
Signs and symptoms of dengue fever are identical to other illnesses, such as typhoid fever and malaria. This may often delay an accurate diagnosis. There is still no medicine to decapitate the dengue virus.
Doctors will:
- Prescribe you medicines such as acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever.
- Give you IV fluids (in your vein), particularly if you have dengue hemorrhagic fever.
You must not take aspirin or ibuprofen as they can precipitate bleeding or make it even worse. Doctors will put patients under mosquito nets when you’re sick, and so the mosquitoes won’t pick up the virus from you and transmit it to other people.
Prevention of Dengue Fever
Sine the number of dengue victims is increasing. You must take measures to prevent it. If you live in or visit a dengue area of the city, simply take steps to avoid mosquito bites:
- Make use of mosquito nets.
- Spray the body with a DEET bug spray.
- Use long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Bring in window screens and fix any cracks.
- Avoid standing water in or near the house where mosquitoes multiply.
Key Facts About Dengue Fever
According to WHO, these are the following reasons key facts about dengue.
- Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection.
- The infection causes flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
- The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades. About half of the world’s population is now at risk.
- Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
- Severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries.
- There is no specific treatment for dengue/ severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1%.
- Dengue prevention and control depends on effective vector control measures.
Myths about Dengue
- Eating Bananas at Night Increase the Chances of Dengue
It is a known rumor that people who consume bananas at night are possibly the favorite victim for getting bitten by mosquitoes. It is utterly false since a study was conducted by CNN which proved that bananas no way influence mosquito bites.
- Women Are Their Target
It is assumed that women are more prone to mosquito bites because of the fact that women release more hormones, particularly during their ovulation; thus, becoming attractive to getting bitten by mosquitoes. However, no studies prove it to be true. And there’s no truth behind this fact. It is only a myth.
- Dark Clothes Attract Them
Although being a popular myth among people, wearing black clothes will not imply that a person gets bitten or is more vulnerable to mosquito bites.
- One Cannot Get Dengue Twice in Life
People believe that if someone has suffered through dengue fever once, they won’t get it again – which is a total misconception. People can get dengue more than once in a lifetime. It’s triggered by a virus of four various strains. Thus, being infected once does not mean that a patient is unlikely to contract the virus again.
- It Gets Transferred Through Physical Contact
People avoid getting in touch with the people suffering from dengue fever believing that it may be contagious or get transferred from physical contact. Dengue is borne by a host called the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Such mosquitoes transmit the virus by attacking the infected person.
What to do if you think you are suffering from dengue symptoms?
When you feel you may have been subjected to Dengue Fever and experience these symptoms, visit the doctor right away. Testing has been upgraded and therefore can recognize the antibodies in the blood that will develop if the fever is present and a diagnosis can be made quickly.
Author Bio: My name is Sameer Saleem and I have been writing on a range of issues on the internet. I have diverse experience in content writing, and copy writing and also have an immense interest in digital marketing. Visit my Medical tips blog.
