Dengue is prevalent throughout India in most of the metropolitan cities and towns. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of dengue outbreaks across the world due to increase in favorable conditions for mosquito breeding in urban areas resulting from rapid urbanization, developmental activities and lifestyle changes.  Heavy and unseasonable rainfall adds to development of outbreak situations by increasing the number of breeding sites.

Alarm bells for Dengue have started ringing. It’s time for all of us to take precaution against Dengue."

What is Dengue?

Ø      Dengue is a viral disease and transmitted by the infective bite of Aedes Aegypti mosquito

Ø      Human being develops this disease after 4-7 days of being bitten by the infective mosquito

Ø      It occurs in two forms Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and may also know as (DHF)

Ø      Dengue fever is severe flu like illness while DHF is more form of disease, which may cause death

Ø      Person suspected of having dengue fever or DHF must see a doctor at once.

Sign and symptoms

·        Abrupt onset of high fever

·        Muscles and joint pain

·        Measles- like rash over chest and upper limps

·        Thirsty feeling and dryness of mouth

·        Difficulty in breathing, bleeding from nose, mouth and gums

·        Severe frontal headache

·        Loss of sense of taste and appetite

·        Nausea and vomiting

·        Sleepiness and restlessness

  

Favored breeding places

o       Desert coolers, flower pots, barrels

o       Drums, Tanks

o       Buckets, Jars, Tins, Tyres,

o       Coconut shells, tree holes, Roof, bottles

Do’s and Don’ts

v     Replace water from flower pots,coolers,barrels and other all small containers at least once in a week

v     Discarded containers like objects such as tyres, coconut shells, and bottles should be disposed off.

v     Use aerosol during day time to prevent the bites of mosquito

v     Do not wear clothes that exposes arms and legs

v     Children shouldn’t be allowed to play in shorts and half-sleeved clothes

v     Use mosquito nets or mosquito repellents while sleeping