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Dengue scare grips Delhi: Know how to protect yourself!

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 4:35 IST

Delhi is in the grip of worst outbreak of dengue fever in five year. So far reportedly eleven people have died and 1,872 cases of Dengue have been reported in Delhi.

Here's your guide to fight Dengue.

Dengue causes

  • Dengue is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the dengue virus, which is mainly found in the tropical regions.

  • Dengue is spread from human-to-human by the bite of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

  • The dengue virus belongs to a group known as Flavivirus and can be typically divided into four viral serotypes, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4, which are closely related but differ in their antigens.

  • Many species of mosquito under the genus Aedes transmit dengue; especially the Aedes aegypti species is involved in spreading the infection and is considered as the main cause of dengue.

  • The virus circulates in the blood for 2-7 days after the human is affected, during which the mosquito may acquire the virus by biting the infected human and spread it to another unsuspecting victim.

Dengue symptoms

  • Sudden high fever

  • Severe headaches

  • Pain behind the eyes

  • Severe joint and muscle pain

  • Fatigue

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Skin rash

  • Sometime mild bleeding such as a nose bleed or bleeding gums

Dengue treatment

  • There are actually no known antiviral drugs or injections available for the cure of dengue. However, the disease can be treated with plenty of supportive care and treatment that would eventually help save the patient's life.

  • Dengue is characterized by fever and intense body ache. The fever can be treated with antipyretic drugs such as paracetamol and the body ache can be treated with analgesics that help relieve the pain.

  • Drugs such as aspirin should be avoided as they may increase the risk of hemorrhage.

  • The patient can also be treated with natural home remedies such as papaya leaves, kiwi and other food items that have been proven to help in the increase of platelet count, which gets affected during dengue. But there is no properly documented research to support these claims.

  • In the case of more severe forms of dengue, such as dengue hemorrhagic disease or dengue shock syndrome, it a must for the patient to be admitted to a hospital and given proper care.

  • Patients should drink plenty of fluids, as dehydration is prevalent among those affected with Dengue.

First published: 16 September 2015, 3:54 IST