According to statistics reported by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, world over each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue. Approximately 100 million people get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue. Almost half the world’s population, which is about 4 billion people, is living at risk of a dengue infection.
Dengue is a type of fever which is painful and debilitating for the affected person and is one of the deadliest mosquitoes borne viral diseases known to man. Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus)
As dengue case surges in India epidemiologists expect diagnosed cases of dengue in India to increase much over the next one to two years. It is forecasted that diagnosed cases of dengue are expected to exceed 41,000 cases by the end of this year in our country. Dengue epidemic usually has a seasonal pattern and the transmission peaks during and after rainy seasons. This could be one of the reasons for the present surge. There are many factors that are contributing to the surge which include high mosquito population levels, susceptibility to circulating serotypes, favorable breeding temperatures and precipitation and humidity in the atmosphere. All of these affect the reproduction and feeding patterns of mosquito populations, as well as the dengue virus incubation period.
This virus is present in most tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It’s most common in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. But other parts of the world like the United States and Hawaii too have seen incidents of dengue.
What are the symptoms of dengue?
Up to 40–80% of all dengue infections are asymptomatic. Bites from infected mosquitoes are the only mode of transmission for the disease. Dengue symptoms usually manifest only four to six days after infection. Symptoms of dengue typically last for 2–7 days. Most people will recover after about a week.
The common symptoms are below:
- High fever
- Severe headaches
- Pain behind the eyes
- Severe joint and muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
- Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)
Often dengue symptoms are mistaken for a common flu or some other infection. Current research evidence shows that sequential infection increases the risk of a severe form of infection that has bleedings. If left untreated serious problems can emerge including dengue hemorrhagic fever, damage to lymphatic system and blood vessels, respiratory diseases, rapid drop in blood pressure, enlargement of the liver or failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms when worsened may progress to heavy bleeding, shock, and death. This is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
How is dengue diagnosed?
Dengue can be diagnosed with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. Dengue viral genome can be detected by RT-PCR in blood specimens up to day five of illness.
If any symptoms typical of dengue manifests after having been to affected areas it is advised to get one self-checked without delay. This will prevent the dangers of a delayed diagnosis
What is the treatment for dengue?
At present, there are no specific vaccines or antiviral treatments available against dengue fever for the general population globally. The fever is treated and brought down with the use of Paracetamol. Aspirin or related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIs) such as ibuprofen as well as anticoagulants are to be strictly avoided.
Dengue virus has four strains and recovery from infection by one dengue virus provides lifelong immunity against that particular virus strain. However, this immunity is only partial and is not a guarantee of subsequent infection by the other three strains of the virus. Those who become infected with the virus a second time are at a significantly greater risk of developing severe disease.
In 2019, the FDA approved a vaccine called Dengvaxia to help prevent the disease from occurring in adolescents aged 9 to 16 who have already been infected by dengue.
How can we prevent dengue Fever?
The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes especially during day time and particularly if one is living in or traveling to a tropical area. The best way to protect oneself from dengue is to:
- Use mosquito repellents, even while indoors and during daytime as well giving preference to herbal options
- Keep mosquitoes out of the house by placing insect screens over doors and windows
- When outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks to cover, feet and hand
- Sleep inside a mosquito net, even during day time
- When indoors, use air conditioning if available.
- Make sure window and door screens are secure and free of holes.
- Take extra precaution to prevent transmission if a family member is infected by being vigilant as the same mosquito can infect others of the family too
- If one suspects that the symptoms they have are of dengue, then it is advised to speak to the doctor and get the tests done early.
- Mosquito population can be reduced by clearing of places where they can breed. These include broken plastic buckets, vessels or utensils lying about, old tires, cans, tree holes, rock pools or flower pots that collect rainwater and stagnate. Regularly replacing the water in outdoor bird baths and pets’ water pails is also important
- Mosquito population can be reduced by clearing of places where they can breed. These include broken plastic buckets, vessels or utensils lying about, old tires, cans, tree holes, rock pools or flower pots that collect rainwater and stagnate. Regularly replacing the water in outdoor bird baths and pets’ water pails is also important
- Vector control in some areas is being done by introducing mosquito fish into lake and ponds. The mosquito fish feed on larvae in large quantities.
It is proven beyond doubt that it is impossible to live in a world totally free of mosquitoes. Our best bet is to prevent ourselves from being bitten by them as much as possible. Unfortunately, most of the products available in the market for mosquito prevention are made of substances that could eventually be harmful for our health.
The situation however isn’t too bleak and some of the few socially responsible enterprises like Muktha Ayurveda have come up with Ayurvedic, Non-toxic, Natural products for repelling mosquitoes and have gone back in time to seek solutions from our age-old traditions.
The dengue mosquitoes are usually most active during the daytime, and so the most likely chances of infection happen during the morning and afternoon hours, especially, two hours after sunrise and a couple of hours before sunset. Hence for day time bite prevention, use of Catche must-quit-o Repellent lotion from Muktha Ayurveda can be considered as a very suitable option.
If you want to know more about best Ayurvedic mosquito repellents available in the market log on to https://mukthaayurveda.com/
