Dengue season is here with the rains. While the monsoon is a season for fun, a bout of dengue fever can be a mood spoiler. The best way to deal with such threatening and traumatic diseases is to learn about them and then deal with them accordingly to keep the little ones safe. Here are some fast facts on how dengue fever spreads, its symptoms and treatment to keep you ahead in the game.
1. Dengue fever is a mosquito borne disease spread by the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus species of mosquito.
2. These dengue carrying mosquitoes typically bite at dusk and dawn, however they may bite at any time of the day and spread the infection.
3. A mosquito gets infected by sucking the blood of a person already infected with the dengue virus.
4. The mosquito then gets infected within the first 2-10 days of having the infected blood meal with the virus lining the mosquito's gut.
5. After about 8-10 days later the infection spreads to the other parts of the mosquito's body including the salivary gland that they use to feed on human blood.
6. When the infected mosquito bites a human, victim gets infected as the virus in the mosquito's body gets released in the human blood stream along with the saliva.
7. Once inside the human body the virus attaches itself to the white blood cells in the body and replicates itself to cause dengue.
8. Once infected with dengue, the mosquito remains infected for life without the virus having any effect on the mosquito.
9. Dengue can be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transfusion.
10. Additionally there are reported cases of dengue being transmitted vertically from mother to child during pregnancy and or at birth.
11. A novel vaccine has been approved in three countries. Dengue fever er doesn't have any vaccines that are available commercially yet.
12. Dengue causing mosquitoes usually prefer laying eggs in artificial water containers to stay in closer proximity to humans for their blood meals.
13. Dengue fever being a mosquito borne disease, can only be controlled and restricted by appropriately dealing with mosquitoes.
14. Symptoms of dengue in children include high fever,pain in the muscle, joints, and or bones, rashes, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, bleeding gums and or nose etc.
15. Symptoms of dengue in children are similar to those of the common cold and gastroenteritis and can easily be misdiagnosed.
16. Given that there is no cure available the treatment for dengue fever is usually symptomatic, meaning medication is provided to relieve the symptoms till the infection has run its course.
17. Light healthy meals, adequate liquids for hydration, lots of rest help support the treatment and are must for faster recovery.
18. Infected patients should always use mosquito protection to restrict further spreading of the infection.
19. Only way to prevent the spread of dengue is to prevent mosquito breeding and bites by keeping the environment clean of any standing water and using appropriate mosquito protection in sufficient quantities.
