Dengue : Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Posted on NOVEMBER 09, 2021
What is Dengue ?
Dengue fever, also commonly known as “break bone fever” is a flu-like illness caused by the Dengue virus. It is caused when an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy person. This disease is mainly found in the tropical & sub-tropical regions of the world.
According to WHO, an estimated 500,000 people require hospitalization each year. Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, with the population in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Africa, parts of Central & South America most susceptible to the disease. As per the data released by the Directorate of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), there have been 67,000 cases of Dengue fever as of 13th October 2019 in India.
Causes :
Dengue is caused due to four viruses, namely – DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, & DENV-4. The virus enters a mosquito when it bites an already infected person. The illness is spread when it bites a healthy person, & the virus spreads through the person’s bloodstream.
Once a person recovers, he is immune to the specific virus & not the other three types. The probability of developing severe Dengue fever, also known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, increases if you’re infected a second, third or fourth time.
Symptoms :
Usually, symptoms of Dengue feel like an uncomplicated fever & not easily identifiable in teens & children. Dengue causes a fever of 104° Fahrenheit along with at least two of these symptoms:
Headache | Muscle, bone & joint pain | Nausea | Vomiting | Pain behind the eyes | Swollen glands | Rash
There are three types of fever a person is prone to, namely :
- Mild Dengue Fever: Symptoms are seen after a week from the bite & include severe or fatal complications.
- Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever: Symptoms are mild but can gradually worsen within a few days.
- Dengue Shock Syndrome: This is a severe form of dengue & can even cause death.
Treatment :
There is no specific treatment of Dengue fever or cure as Dengue is a virus. Timely intervention can help, depending on how severe the disease is. Here are a few basic treatments of Dengue fever:
- Medication: Painkillers like Tylenol or Paracetamol are generally prescribed to the patients. I.V. drips are sometimes supplemented in case of severe dehydration.
- Stay Hydrated: This is crucial as most of our bodily fluids are lost during vomiting & high fever. Continuous intake of fluids will make sure that the body does not easily dehydrate.
- Hygiene: Hygiene is of the utmost importance, even more so when you are not well. The patient can opt for a sponge bath if not a regular bath. Add a few drops of disinfectant liquid like Dettol to the water being used for bathing. It is also advisable to sanitize your hand with a hand sanitizer like Dettol before & after visiting the patient in the hospital. Disinfect the water used to wash the patient’s clothes with Dettol to rid the clothes of germs.
Prevention :
Researchers are still working on finding a specific cure for Dengue fever. Dengue fever treatment involves the use of pain relievers with acetaminophen. Additionally, your doctor will recommend you to drink plenty of fluids & take rest. The best way is prevention. Following are some actions you can take to keep yourself safe from the virus:
- Lesser Skin Exposure: Try wearing long pants & shirts to cover your skin surfaces & reducing the chances of bites. Mosquitoes are highly active early in the morning or evening, so try avoiding venturing out in those times.
- Mosquito Repellent: A repellent with at least 10 per cent concentration of diethyltoluamide (DEET). A higher concentration is needed for longer exposures. You can apply the ointment daily to keep mosquitoes away.
- Personal Hygiene: When you are infected with any virus, you are extra sensitive to other illnesses. Use a hand sanitizer like Dettol liquid hand wash which acts to keep germs at bay. This liquid soap will protect you against many illness-causing germs.
- Disinfect Stagnant Water: The Aedes mosquito breeds in clean & stagnant water. Keep water covered at all times & use a proper disinfectant if necessary. Turn over any vessels which can accumulate water & scrub the surfaces thoroughly so as to reduce the chances of developing a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.