Dengue: a global threat, its symptoms and prevention

It was my sister-in-law’s wedding in November. Sadly, many of our relatives from Kaithal couldn’t attend it. Dengue cases were on the rise there. And most of the families were affected by it. My husband’s aunt, both of her sons, and her grandchildren were admitted to the hospital. We all felt helpless. As most of my husband’s extended family live in and around Kaithal, at least one member from each of our relative’s families was in the hospital. It saddens me to think about Dengue can be easily prevented. And still, we can’t prevent this disease. We need to be careful and take care of our families.

Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, or zika virus can turn deadly and are a threat to the global health. We all have heard cases where a family has lost a loved one. Fifty years ago, only a couple of countries reported dengue or malaria outbreaks, but now it is endemic in more than 120 countries. With high mortality rate, WHO estimates that there are at least 100 million infections in a year. And in 1 out of 100 cases, it becomes fatal. A little information and preventive measure can help us wipe out this disease from the face of the earth. Do the following to keep yourself and your family from these mosquito-borne diseases.

Note the symptoms

Dengue symptoms can be easily detected. Please take note if any of your family members suffers from these dengue fever symptoms. The symptoms are:

• Severe flu-like illness and it begins with a sudden onset of fever and headache
• Skin cash
• Muscle and joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting

Test and Treatment

Dengue is diagnosed with the help of laboratory tests. Head to the nearest doctor or clinic to determine the presence of dengue virus. These tests must be done within the first few days of the patient presenting symptoms. So don't wait. See your doctor the moment you notice dengue symptoms in your loved one.

There is no set treatment for dengue. It requires appropriate management of symptoms, in addition to maintaining an optimum level of body fluids.There is a commercially available vaccine against dengue, but it is available only in Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, and the Philippines. Though WHO has not formally clarified its stand on this vaccination but has urged countries where Dengue cases are at epidemic levels to start a national immunization program. India's is still to introduce it.

How can we prevent it?

Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito which is active during the daytime. To protect your family, both inside and outside the home, it’s important to use proper clothing and products. The best measure is to use personal repellents like Good knight Fabric Roll-On. It comes two fragrance - citrus and bubblegum fragrance for kids. These repellents prevent mosquitoes and hence is the best way to keep your family safe from dengue.

Inside the home, in addition, to keep the windows and doors close, it’s advisable to use Good knight Activ+ to keep mosquitoes away.

For dengue and other such diseases, prevention is key. When such a disease is on the rise in your city, take necessary precautions to keep your family safe.