Dengue- Transmission, symptoms, and treatment
Dengue is a disease that is caused by mosquito bites. The fever caused by dengue is also known as breakbone fever. Dengue is a viral infection that is caused by the Aedes mosquito. In people having dengue, flu-like symptoms are prominently seen. There are four types of dengue viruses, they are,
- DENV 1
- DENV 2
- DENV 3
- DENV 4
DENV 3 and DENV 4 are most commonly seen among the four types.
Please keep reading to learn more about dengue
How Is Dengue Transmitted?
Dengue transmission occurs when an infected Aedes mosquito bites a healthy person. The mosquito becomes infected after it bites the person infected with dengue, and the transmission cycle continues.
Dengue cannot spread from an infected person to a healthy person, unless bitten by an infected mosquito. However, a pregnant mother with dengue can spread the virus to the baby during pregnancy or birth.
What Are Dengue Signs And Symptoms
The various signs and symptoms of dengue include the following,
- High fever
- Pain at the back of the eyes
- Pain in the joints and muscles
- Chronic headache
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Flushing
- Redness in the eyes
- Pain and tenderness in the abdomen (severe symptoms)
- Bleeding from the nose and gums (severe symptoms)
- Vomiting blood (severe symptoms)
- Blood in the stools (severe symptoms)
The signs and symptoms of dengue usually take 4 to 10 days to appear after the patient is bitten by a mosquito.
Causes Of Dengue
When a healthy individual is bitten by an infected mosquito, one of the four viruses enters the bloodstream of the person and starts replicating, which eventually causes dengue.
There are certain risk factors that put a person at risk of contracting dengue. This includes,
- Traveling or living in areas known for dengue. For example, tropical areas like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- History of dengue infection
How Is Dengue Diagnosed?
Dengue can be diagnosed with the help of blood tests. Once you are infected and start experiencing the symptoms, it is advised to visit your doctor. Your doctor will provide you with an accurate diagnosis.
What Is The Treatment For Dengue?
Currently, there is no way to treat dengue. Once infected and diagnosed with dengue, your healthcare provider will give you medicines like acetaminophen to relieve pain. It is important to show to a doctor and not self-medicate. Medicine like aspirin and ibuprofen should not be taken when having dengue, as it can worsen the bleeding symptom.
You can manage your symptoms at home by using the following tips,
- Take plenty of rest
- Stay hydrated all the time. Drink a lot of water and other fluids
- Take medicines that are prescribed by your doctor, like acetaminophen.
Prevention Of Dengue
There are several preventive measures you can follow to prevent your risk of getting dengue; these preventive measures include the following,
- Covering the whole body with clothes
- Using mosquito-repellent creams
- Putting mosquito nets
- Using screens for windows and doors to prevent the entry of the mosquitoes
- Maintaining a hygienic environment in the house by keeping the surroundings clean and preventing stagnation of water
Conclusion
Although dengue is a common disease, it is a serious condition. If not treated on time, the symptoms can worsen and even cause internal bleeding, shock, and death. Prevention of dengue is extremely important and has to start by keeping our homes clean. Avoiding water collection in the house drains, pots and balconies are important as stagnated water makes for a breathing ground for mosquitoes that not only cause dengue but other diseases like malaria too.
