With the spread of dengue fever in the past few months, there is a need to spread dengue fever awareness. “The incidence of dengue has increased dramatically, with about 50% of the world’s population now at risk of getting the disease,” said the WHO. 100–400 million infections occur each year, of which 80% are generally mild and asymptomatic.
What is dengue:
Dengue is a viral infection that spreads due to the bite of the female mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Infection is caused by one of the four serotypes of the dengue virus. Symptoms mostly start to appear after three to fourteen days. Dengue fever has flu-like symptoms and can cause severe bone, joint, and body pain, which is why it is called breakbone fever. So if you are a resident of a tropical region or traveling to a tropical area, try to avoid much contact with mosquitoes. If you are having a fever after you have traveled to a tropical area for a few days, then see a doctor. Read this article for good dengue fever awareness. Also, check https://www.who.int/health-topics/dengue-and-severe-dengue#tab=tab_1
Symptoms of dengue fever:
Dengue disease has symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to severe. Symptoms can be observed 4–10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The patient may experience flu-like symptoms. Common symptoms that everyone should know for better dengue fever awareness are:
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Pain behind the eyes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Swollen glands
Severe symptoms:
Severe dengue happens when blood vessels become leaky and a number of platelets drop in the blood, leading to bleeding. This condition may be fatal as it can cause shock, internal bleeding, bleeding gums or nose, organ failure, and death. Mosquito breeding increases with the start of summers and winters. Organize campaigns about dengue fever awareness. Severe symptoms are:
- Rapid breathing
- Persistent vomiting
- Severe abdominal pain
- Bleeding gums and nose
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Irritability or restlessness
- Liver enlargement
Diagnosis of dengue fever:
The diagnosis of dengue fever is difficult, as its signs and symptoms may be confused with those of other diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, the Zika virus, and chikungunya. That’s an important point about dengue fever awareness for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Never administer azithromycin, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or Ibuprofen, because they have a remarkable effect on the platelet count. Patients already dealing with dengue can have severe nasal, gum, and internal bleeding. If the stool was black or red, it was an indication of a serious medical emergency. It can lead to anemia and shock.
Doctors should likely ask for the patient’s medical and travel history. It is better to diagnose diseases with blood tests and carefully monitor the parameters. The following tests should be performed for a proper diagnosis of the patient:
- RT_PCR (Reverse transcriptase-polymerase reaction detects the virus and it is considered a gold standard.
- The protein produced by the virus that is NS1 is detected in a rapid diagnostic test.
- To confirm any previous 3 months or past infections, serological methods must opt.
Remember, if you or someone in your family is facing the symptoms stated above, avoid using ibuprofen, NSAIDs, and antibiotics such as azithromycin. This should be the most important point for all the dengue fever awareness campaigns. It can cause severe bleeding, leading to hospitalization and death.
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Treatment:
Treatment is depending on proper dengue fever awareness. Many flu-like symptoms subside within one week. But for severe symptoms, you need to see the doctor. Have your blood tests. Check out your platelet counts. Visit the hospital in severe conditions.
What to eat during dengue fever:
Due to severe nausea and vomiting, the stomach is already upset. So it is difficult to eat anything. You should eat papaya or you can take papaya juice. This will help you in digestion. Also, try to take foods containing vitamin C. Try to add fresh vegetables, proteins, and fresh and organic fruit juices. Foods rich in iron, vitamin K, high calorie foods like potato, rice, milk and foods which are the rich source of vitamins.
Foods to avoid:
Avoid dark-colored foods, caffeine, spicy foods, and fatty foods. Among them are chocolate, red, or violet color foods or juices that may resemble the blood in the stool so a false appearance of blood in the stool and thereby misconception. Caffeine acts as a diuretic but the body requires hydration during dengue. so make sure to avoid caffine-related products. caffeine and spicy foods irritate the inner linings of stomach and can cause bleeding. Fatty foods are difficult to digest so you should avoid eating fat rich foods. Remember these points if you or someone from your family is facing the flu-like symptoms.
With that we have tried to cover all the points you need to consider for a good dengue fever awareness. Share with your family members and people you love.
