Fight the Bite

In the face of the Dengue epidemic, Bangladesh is in dire need of regulations. Besides claiming the lives of thousands, the Dengue virus has grown to be resilient and harder to avert. It is imperative for us to be wary of its symptoms, preventive measures, and treatment. Nusrat Noshin walks you through the to-dos.

Dengue is a disease transmitted by the Aedes species mosquitoes. They carry the virus by biting an infected human and transmits by biting a non-infected human. They are typically active during the day and it takes them a few days to be able to infect humans.

Symptoms:

Dengue symptoms vary depending on its stage of incubation. It can range from high fever, severe headache, eye pain, joint pain, muscle pain,  rashes, low white blood cell count and fatigue. Severe symptoms include: chronic abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, vomiting blood, tarry stools and clammy skin.

When to get tested?

The symptoms can develop in a matter of 3 to 4 days. If you develop a fever and suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, it’s best to get tested by the NS1 antigen assay. It’s recommended to get the NS1 test done within the first 3 days of the fever. If the results come as positive, follow the doctor’s recommendations. It is important to note that the NS1 antigen is typically detectable within 1 to 2 days following infection and up to 9 days following symptom onset. NS1 antigen may also be detectable during secondary dengue virus infection, but for a shorter duration of time (1-4 days following symptom onset).

Treatment:

Unless it is a severe case, there is no definitive treatment or widely accessible vaccination for dengue. For starters, the fever must be bridled with paracetamol and severe joint pains can be treated with painkillers (only under doctor’s instructions). Normally, the platelet count plummets and the patient has prescribed a fluid-heavy diet. Sometimes they may even require IV drips. The dengue fever subsides within a week, but even after that, the patient is advised to be on bed-rest and not do strenuous activities.

Prevention:

Prevention is always better than cure and not nearly as painstakingly time consuming. It never hurts to be careful and prevention not only protects you and your family, but the people around you too.

• If you have a dengue patient at home keep them away from any mosquito contact. Aedes mosquitoes can get infected from biting the patient and infect others.

• If you have a garden or plant pots, clear them of standing water. Aedes mosquitoes breed in water. Domestic gardens and pots are an ideal environment for them to spawn. Make sure to not overdo it when watering plants. Excess water forms pools in the soil that draws mosquitoes. Turnover buckets, empty pots or any vessel that may retain rain water.

• Certain herbal plants do a nifty job at steering the air clear of pesky mosquitoes. You can plant Basil, Marigold, Lavender, Peppermint, Garlic, Rosemary and Geraniums around the house. Their aromatic air is pleasing to the olfactory neurons, while dexterous at combating disease bearing insects.    

• If you are out and about all day, make sure to wear full-sleeves and pants. Use a mosquito repellent cream (preferably ones that have DEET) on your exposed skin. Do not apply it near the eyes, nose and mouth and avoid open cuts and wounds. If you use mosquito repellent body sprays, then do not spray directly on the face. Spray it in your hands first and pat the residue on your face. Wash your hands afterwards. Do not use spray on children under 2.

• Use mosquito nets at night, mosquito repellent air sprays or electric mosquito killing solutions. Make sure the windows and door screens are closed at all times of the day.

Hopefully the dengue epidemic and hysteria will recede with the monsoon. Till then, stay safe and vigilant!