In my clinic (Yes, I found a place to work) dengue cases are rising in the capital. My neighbour who lives in Pune and a friend who lives in Kolkata was diagnosed with Dengue.
While the Pune neighbour was treated and recovered at home, my Kolkata friend had to be admitted to ICU for 2 days. Thankfully, she is all well now.
Hence I thought let’s write an awareness post on Dengue- Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by any one of the four related dengue viruses.
It is also known as breakbone-fever because it affects the muscles and the bones causing severe pain which feels like the breaking of the bones.
How Does the Dengue Virus Spread?
It is transmitted when the infected female Aedes mosquito bites a person (yeah only females bites, beware of females in real life too😉
This virus cannot spread from person to person. It only spreads when the mosquito bites an infected person and then that infected mosquito bites someone else.
What are the symptoms of Dengue?
The symptoms start within 4-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The common symptoms are:
1. High Fever
2. Muscle and joint pain
3. Pain behind the eyes
4. Headache
5. Diarrhoea, Nausea & Vomiting
There is little decrease in platelet count but nothing to worry about unless the symptom worsens.
However, dengue fever can be fatal in rare cases and can lead to multi-organ failure.
How can Dengue be treated?
There are no specific medications or vaccines to treat the dengue virus.
The key treatment is to be hydrated because the body losses enough fluids due to the complaints (diarrhoea and vomiting), so need to drink plenty of fluids and a lot of rest so that no complications happen.
Along with it, consult your doctor for the right treatment.
As you all know, it is a popular myth that papaya leaf juice and goat milk can help to cure dengue fever.
Yes, both of my friends had it because everyone is an expert in advising papaya and goat milk benefits in dengue.
However, I couldn’t find any studies or research that confirms the increase in platelet counts after the consumption of these foods.
But these are nutritious foods which can help to strengthen the immunity, so yeah in that way, we should consume it.
How to Prevent Dengue?
The best prevention is to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.
You can follow the below tips to reduce your chances of getting infected
1. Use mosquito repellents at home and be safe.
2. Ensure to eliminate stagnant water in and around the house. The stagnant water is mosquito breeding in buckets, clogged drains, unused bottles, etc.
3. Wear full covered clothes such as a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and socks.
4. Keep your windows closed and install screens or nets on it.
5. Use a mosquito bed net when you sleep esp for infants.
6. Can apply mosquito repellents like roll-on or cream on skin when going outside as that helps to protect from getting bitten.
References:
- https://delhi.apollohospitals.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-dengue-fever
- https://doctoranywhere.com/blog/2020/07/02/dengue-all-you-need-to-know/
*Disclaimer: This post is meant for educational purposes only.
