National Dengue Day: This monsoon, steer clear of dengue

With the monsoons around the corner the numbers of mosquitoes in the city are on a steady rise increasing the risk of getting diseases spread through collected water Rampant construction in the city also has led to a spurt in the mosquito population Malaria Filariasis Dengue Zika and Chikungunya are some of the ailments that are transmitted due to insects and it is imperative to keep oneself safe from such diseases Dengue in particular has been a cause of grave concern with The Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC report stating that an estimated 400 million people around the world get infected with this virus each year In the last four months 3875 breeding sites were found by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC in MumbaiCausesDengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of female Aedes aegypti a species of mosquitoes that is also responsible for spreading Zika Chikungunya and Yellow fever The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical areas in Southeast Asia the Western Pacific the Eastern Mediterranean the Americas the Caribbean and Africa Dengue often manifests initially as a simple flu but if symptoms are overlooked or left untreated it can turn fatal causing severe denguelike dengue haemorrhagic syndrome or dengue shock syndromeSymptomsThe most common symptoms of the disease are fever along with any of the followingHeadacheEye pain typically behind the eyesMuscle joint or bone painRashNausea and vomitingUnusual bleeding nose or gum bleed small red spots under the skin or unusual bruisingIf the disease is mild it can be treated at home with the help of acetaminophen paracetamol adequate rest and adequate intake of fluids However one needs to be careful and observe the patient closely for various serious symptoms which may develop such asSevere abdominal pain or vomiting at least 3 vomiting episodes within 24 hoursBleeding from the nose or gumsVomiting blood or blood in the stoolDrowsiness or irritabilityPale cold or clammy skinDifficulty in breathingIf the patient exhibits these symptoms they should be taken to the hospital immediately Failure to do so may provebe fatalPreventionAlthough a vaccine Dengvaxia is available to prevent human infection it is only recommended in those who have been previously infected by this virus But prevention is truly better than cure Personal and environmental safety should be of prime importance for the best outcomes To ensure personal safety from Dengue one must make a note of the followingUse mosquito repellents containing DEET NNDiethylmetatoluamide do not spray the repellent directly onto skin and in case of young children first spray it on your hands and then apply it on themUse screens and mosquito nets to keep the insects at bayWear comfortable clothing that provides maximum coverage thus protectionAvoid using strong fruit fragrances and lotions as it attracts mosquitoesEnvironmental safety is just as important as the Aedes mosquito breeds inside and outside the home in stagnant water Make sure to keep containers holding water covered donrsquot let water accumulate anywhere for long These mosquitoes rarely fly more than 200 metres from the breeding site They do not breed in creeks swamps pools or other bodies of dirty water Thus keeping your environment clean and hygienic is necessarySome other precautionary measures one can take include the followingInstall screens or nets on all doors and windowsCheck the walls of the house for cracks or holes and also water seepage Seal out any damageSleep in an airconditioned room as mosquitoes tend to stay away in colder temperaturesOnce a week empty and scrub turn over cover or throw out items that hold water such as tires buckets planters toys pools birdbaths flowerpots or trash containers as these act as their breeding groundDengue is a common disease and can prove to be a fatal one Hence it is crucial to prevent the disease by maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings especially during monsoons The Monsoon season provides favourable breeding grounds for Dengue causing mosquitoes and therefore to maintain onersquos health these tips can be kept in mind and implemented Dr Deepesh Agarwal Head Critical Care Medicine Saifee HospitalTop News Stories Of The DayAditya Pancholi claims he was threatened with a rape case submits videoMumbai Kids show how to sort out Vile Parles traffic woesMumbai BPO firm asked to pay Rs 262 crore or face recovery proceedingsMumbai Narrow approach stalls Jogeshwari projectPune Honest janitor returns mangalsutra worth Rs 2 lakhDeven Bharti is new ATS chief MaharashtraMumbai HC refuses to vacate stay on BMCs Tree AuthorityMedicine shortage BMC blacklists rogue supplierDadars Chitra Cinema to shut down SOTY 2 to be its last day last showNick Barnes Power to humiliate has increased dramaticallyAction should follow new BMC chiefs promisesRamona Narang The transformation of high societys once wild childAranya Johar The 20yearold poet who is taking the internet 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