We all are observing the epidemic of Dengue everywhere.
We should have awareness about its symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Symptoms
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 4 to 7 days after the infection.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 to 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Headache (especially behind the eyes)
• Joint aches
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Nasal stuffiness
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment available.
General recommendations include controlling fever and pain with paracetamol rather than aspirin (aspirin may promote bleeding) and increasing fluid intake. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor.
Prevention
• Exclusion from childcare, preschool, school or work is usually not necessary but people experiencing fever from dengue infection should not be in an environment where they may be bitten by mosquitoes. If this is not possible they should stay at home until they have no fever and are therefore no longer infectious (usually 3 to 5 days).
• There is no vaccine to prevent human infection by this virus.
• Personal protection and the environmental management of mosquitoes are important in preventing illness.
• Prevent access of mosquitoes to an infected person with a fever.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times in dengue areas.
We should have awareness about its symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Symptoms
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 4 to 7 days after the infection.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 to 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Headache (especially behind the eyes)
• Joint aches
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Nasal stuffiness
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment available.
General recommendations include controlling fever and pain with paracetamol rather than aspirin (aspirin may promote bleeding) and increasing fluid intake. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor.
Prevention
• Exclusion from childcare, preschool, school or work is usually not necessary but people experiencing fever from dengue infection should not be in an environment where they may be bitten by mosquitoes. If this is not possible they should stay at home until they have no fever and are therefore no longer infectious (usually 3 to 5 days).
• There is no vaccine to prevent human infection by this virus.
• Personal protection and the environmental management of mosquitoes are important in preventing illness.
• Prevent access of mosquitoes to an infected person with a fever.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times in dengue areas.