DENGUE is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread to all regions or parts of the world. Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus. These mosquitoes are also vectors of chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by climate parameters as well as social and environmental factors ( Dengue and Severe Dengue- World Health Organization, July 17, 2022 ).
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. The severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock), and death. Millions of cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Dengue fever is most common in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. But the disease has been spreading to new areas, including local outbreaks in Europe and the southern part of the United States (Dengue Fever- Symptoms and Causes).
According to Dengue Symptoms and Treatment, the most common symptoms of dengue are fever with any of the following: nausea, vomiting, rashes, aches, and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle pain, joint pain, and bone pain). Symptoms of dengue typically last 2-7 days. Most people will recover after about a week. There is no specific medicine to treat dengue. Treat the symptoms of dengue and see your healthcare provider. If you think you have dengue, see a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. Tell him or her about your travel. You need also to rest as much as possible. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Drink water or drinks with added electrolytes.
You should also watch for signs and symptoms of severe dengue. Warning signs usually begin 24-48 hours after your fever has gone away. Immediately go to a local clinic or emergency room if you or a family member has any of the following symptoms: belly pain, tenderness, vomiting ( at least 3 times in 24 hours ), bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, blood in the stool, feeling tired, restless or irritable. For the treatment of severe dengue, see a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room immediately. Severe dengue is a medical emergency. It requires immediate medical care at a clinic or hospital (Dengue Symptoms and Treatment).
There are several ways that we can do at home and in our community, to prevent dengue fever. Let us always clean our homes and surroundings. Let us make it a habit to clean our homes and our surroundings every day. If we can see some cans, tires, caps, and others, let us make sure to turn them upside down to avoid stagnant water. Let us also cover our water containers at home so that mosquitoes cannot lay eggs on them. If there is stagnant water, let us make sure to eliminate it. Cleanliness of the surrounding is a must to make everyone not infected with dengue fever. If the surrounding is dirty, mosquitoes will thrive on it and make it their breeding place. So, let us make it a habit to clean our homes and our surroundings.
Personal hygiene is also important. We must make sure that we maintain cleanliness of our bodies. It is because if we are having a dirty body, it will also make us easily infected with different viruses and bacteria around us. If our body is dirty, mosquitoes are most likely to be attracted to us. So, let us clean our bodies to avoid dengue fever and other illnesses. We must prioritize the cleanliness of our bodies, aside from the cleanliness of our homes and surrounding.
Let us also make sure that we eat fruits and vegetables for us to have a healthy body. These fruits and vegetables can boost our immune system to fight different viruses that are dangerous to us. Let us also drink plenty of water and other healthy drinks for us to keep ourselves hydrated. Keep safe everyone!
