The What, Where, When, and Why of Dengue

Dengue is a viral disease that has been fatal taking away several lives in an instance. There are 35000+ species of mosquitoes around the world. It is caused by Aedes mosquitos consisting of the virus. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. It can’t be spread from one person to another. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after the virus has been transmitted.

Symptoms may include high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a distinctive skin rash. Sometimes, symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. According to research, people with weak immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue fever.

Recovery generally takes two to seven days or maybe more. The symptoms and signs may last about one to two weeks with complete recovery, in most cases, in a few weeks. There is no such proper medicine for dengue up till now, there is no specific medical procedure to treat dengue either. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen the situation. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor.

Dengue is a virus, so there is no specific treatment or cure. However, the intervention can help, depending on how severe the disease is. For milder forms, treatment includes: preventing dehydration; high fever and vomiting can dehydrate the body. Everyone is trying to recover themselves by the herbal treatments that are papaya leaves and apple juice. Prevention from the mosquitoes is important. The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes, particularly if you are living in or traveling to a tropical area.

Self-protection is important so here are some tips that may be useful for you all. Use mosquito repellents, even when you are indoor.  If you are traveling or outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks. When indoors, use air conditioning, if available. Mosquitoes are always hidden in dark spots; dark places, hence, avoid the darkness. Extreme cold and extreme hot weather are not tolerable for mosquitoes. Make sure window and door screens are secure and free of holes. If sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned, use mosquito nets along with repellents.

An estimated 400 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 million resulting in illness. Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, with the greatest risk. In 2019, the FDA approved a vaccine called Dengvaxia to help prevent the disease from occurring in adolescents aged 9 to 16 who have already been infected by dengue. However, currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the general population from contracting it.

Hope this was helpful for everyone. Keep yourself and surroundings clean, avoid interactions with standing water, gardens and stay safe.