Dengue: Symptoms And Precautions You Must Know

Monsoon is the season when the risk of dengue is at its peak. The humidity, the right temperature and the presence of stagnant flood water encourage the breeding of the female Aedes mosquitoes – whose bite spreads the dengue virus. Dengue has no cure. You must know that early deduction and prevention are the only ways of reducing its fatality. Read on to know the symptoms that you should look out for and the precautionary measures to be taken in order to combat this viral disease.

Visit your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms –

• Sudden high fever (103-105 degrees)


Severe headache


Pain behind the eyes


Unexplained body pains


Sore throat


Rashes


Nausea & vomiting


Severe exertion

These are the signs of dengue fever in its milder form. They may appear within 3 to 4 days after the infected bite. But if these symptoms are ignored they get intensified and are accompanied by other grave symptoms like black stool (due to bleeding in the intestine), bleeding from the skin, nose, mouth, etc. and a severe drop in the blood platelets count. This serious form of dengue is known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). When left untreated, dengue can also get fatal by taking the form of Dengue Shock Syndrome. It is characterized by the sudden collapse of blood vessels in the body that results in shock and even death. That is why taking the right medication at the right time is a must to get rid of dengue.

When it comes to how to prevent dengue, here are the precautionary steps:

• Wear full length sleeved tops and full pants to reduce the chances of mosquito bites.


• Use mosquito repellents at home and office like anti-mosquito coils, liquids, etc. Apply mosquito repellent creams when out.


• Keep your surrounding clean to stop the breeding of mosquitoes. Don’t allow rain water to stagnate in the balcony, flower pots, garbage bins and courtyard. Fill water puddles near your area with sand or petrol/ kerosene or insecticides.