Jammu, Aug 18:
In a significant initiative the senior Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has launched a campaign to spread awareness on Dengue and said that prevention of a disease is much better than cure.
Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi infirmed that a viral mosquito borne disease, Dengue is caused by various strains of the DENV virus, ranging from 1–4 serotypes DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4, which is transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito (during daylight hours) carrying either of the four strains of the dengue virus.
He said that dengue mosquito flourishes in sub-tropical moist and humid temperatures; hence the virus becomes rampant in India between the periods of June to August.
A person bit by the infected mosquito can manifest symptoms like joint or muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, pain behind the eyes and rashes, in a period of 3-14 days.
These symptoms are usually mild in children and teens who recover within 2-3 days, but for adults mild dengue symptoms can typically last for a week and in some cases that worsen can lead to severe dengue fever and cause additional complications.
The Prevention
Prevention and control of Dengue depend on effective vector control measures. Additionally some preventive measure that should be followed by every household which includes de-watering coolers and other small containers should at least once a week, water storage containers that cannot be emptied should be treated with appropriate larvicides, for the prevention of bites of mosquitoes aerosol can be used during the daytime, use mosquito nets or mosquito repellents while sleeping during the daytime, personal protective measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets, window screens, coils, and vaporizers can be used to prevent mosquito bites, to prevent the further spread of dengue to other persons dengue patients should be prevented from mosquito bites.
The Treatment
Several methods can be used for the diagnosis of DENV infection. During the first few days of infection, the virus may be isolated from the blood and various reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) methods are available and are considered as gold standard.
The viral detection depends on the presence of virus-produced protein, called NS1. Serological methods, includes ELISA enzyme-linked immune sorbent assays may confirm the presence of anti-dengue antibodies IgM and IgG. IgM antibodies are detectable ~1 week after infection and remain detectable for 3 months while IgG antibody levels take longer to develop and remain in the body for years.
The best options to treat dengue symptoms are paracetamol or acetaminophen. The use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided for treatment. These anti-inflammatory drugs lead to blood thinning and the risk of hemorrhage. To cure mild dengue fever drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Drink water or drinks with added electrolytes.
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