Health Articles
Fortis Healthcare advisory On Dengue Fever
Chandigarh, July 15, 2004: With some suspected dengue fever cases being reported in the region, Fortis Heart and Multi-speciality Hospital, Mohali - as part of its social commitment - today released a health advisory for citizens of the region in order to avoid Dengue.
According to Dr. Bela Sharma, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Fortis Healthcare, "Dengue is a viral fever and is spread by the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes. Dengue is also known as the Break Bone fever because of the severe body ache. Dengue has a short incubation period - often days, usually two to seven days.
The symptoms of Dengue include a sudden, high fever, a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, rash and deep muscle and joint pains. The rash usually shows up 3-4 days after the start of the symptoms and begins on the torso, spreading out to the face, arms and legs. Dengue becomes dangerous if external or internal haemorrhaging starts. Epistaxis (nose bleed) is one of the main features of haemorrhagic dengue fever.
With Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever the blood cells are crippled and bleeding develops in the gums, the skin or the intestinal tract. With the shock syndrome, blood pressure drops precipitously. As a result the blood fails to meet the metabolic demands of the cells in the body. Hospitalisation is a must in such cases. Treatment is symptomatic, as there is no vaccine for Dengue as yet."
"Prevention is the best option in case of Dengue. The Aedes mosquito usually bites in the morning and afternoons, often indoors or in the shade. During daylight hours - in areas where mosquitoes are present - protect yourself by using anti-mosquito measures. Keep your hands and legs covered; you should wear loose fitting cotton clothes to remain cool in this hot weather.
The Aedes mosquitoes likes to breed in standing water such as may be found in water-coolers, empty tyres, flower pots, etc.
Dengue is not always dangerous. It is generally present in the milder form. One needs to get worried if bleeding occurs. Make sure that the area around your house is kept clean and dry so that you stay safe from Dengue. Diagnosis is clinched by ELISA or RT-PCR".
Do's
- Keep the area around you clean and dry. Ensure that there is no standing water in water-coolers, old tyres, flower-pots etc.
- The Dengue mosquito bites in the day-time; make sure that you are adequately protected from mosquitoes.
- Cover your arms and legs; wear loose fitting cotton clothes.
- In case bleeding starts, hospitalisation is a must.
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