Medical advancement has been able to conquer all types of diseases in today's scenario. There are different types of cures and vaccines available in the medicinal world for almost every fatal disease that human beings are vulnerable too. However, there is a long list of diseases still irk human race, some diseases remain feral, and no cure has been developed for them until now. Chikungunya is one such disease.
What is Chikungunya Virus, after all?
The Chikungunya Virus, also popularly known as Chikungunya fever, is a human viral disease that is not transmitted from one person to another. An infected Culex or Aedes mosquito of different types of species causes it. If anyone in your family is infected with the Chikungunya virus, you will notice symptoms like,
- Joint Pain
- Swelling in joints
- Rashes
- Pain in the lower back of the body
- Severe Nausea
- Chill (feeling cold)
- Severe Fever
- Severe Headache
Important Facts related to Chikungunya Virus
- Chikungunya fever is very similar to Dengue fever. However, being a viral disease, it cannot be transmitted from one person to another, like Dengue fever.
- Chikungunya fever is relatively non-fatal as compared to Dengue.
- There are no preventive vaccinations for Chikungunya virus; therefore, one must take prior precautions in order to reduce the risk of being contaminated due to this virus.
- The outbreak of the Chikungunya fever starts showing its symptoms within three to seven days after the mosquito bite.
- Patients suffering from Chikungunya are recovered fully, unlike in most of the Dengue cases.
- Due to same symptoms, there are times when doctors misguide Chikungunya as Dengue fever.
- There is only one best way to protect yourself against Chikungunya, i.e. protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
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For doctors, it is not at all an easy catch to treat dengue patients, but the nonprofessional would think of every possible way through which dengue can be treated. Most commonly, people think that antibiotics can treat dengue, as they do most infections. Many people also feel that dengue is a contagious disease that can be easily transmitted from one person to another. Moreover, some think that they can be vaccinated against dengue.
Therefore, here is a list for you to know what to do and what not to do in Dengue Fever,
What to Do in Dengue Fever
ü The first thing you need to do is visit a doctor immediately, if dengue is suspected.
ü Cases related to Dengue fever/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever should be observed separately, as they need extra attention of doctor.
ü If you think the high fever can be the result of dengue, try to keep the body temperature lower than 39 C.
ü Give paracetamol to the patient suffering from high fever, but not more than four times in a day.
ü Determine the blood platelet count and haemtocrits count in the patient's body through regular tests, as drop in platelets and rise in haematocrits are important for an early diagnosis of Dengue Fever.
ü Platelet transfusion is advised, if platelets fall consecutively, but as per doctor's advice and your medicinal history. Continuous monitoring of health of the patient is of utmost importance.
ü It is essential to give large amount of fluids like juice, milk, water, and soup to dengue patients along with their normal diet.
ü Keep your surroundings clean and hygienic.
What not to do in Dengue Fever
ü Never give antibiotics to dengue patients.
ü Never give Brufen or Aspirin to patient suffering from high fever.
ü Avoid use of steroids. They do not provide any type of benefit in the treatment of dengue fever.
Dengue Fever is one of the scariest diseases, which is on everyone's list of things that they are afraid of. The reason is that dengue has already cost the lives of many and not even the wealthy are spared of its horror attacks. Dengue Fever is renowned as one of the acute illnesses that happen quite often and among people living in dengue prone or tropical areas. The onset of dengue is treated very normally and many people usually mistake it for an ordinary ailment.
Symptoms of Dengue
The beginning of this disease shows the following symptoms in the body of the patient after four to ten days of the fever,
- Severe Headache - The severe headache is the cause of excessive burden on the brain due to dengue fever.
- Skin Rash - Skin rash appears on whole body of the patient after three to four days on the onset of fever.
- Vomiting – The body of the patient does not respond to any food item given to him/her in the fever, which eventually leads to vomiting. In dengue fever, digestion becomes very slow.
- Severe Nausea – Nausea can be defined as severe cold and cough, which are some of the symptoms of dengue fever and swollen lymph nodes.
- Unbearable Pain Behind the Eyes – The whole body of the dengue patients pains a lot after the onset of fever, especially eyes.
- Sudden, very high Fever – The ranging of the fever in dengue keeps on fluctuating up and down. The fever can go up to 106 F.
- Sometimes, the fever goes down after three days but would resurface again. Therefore, it is indispensable to keep a track of blood platelet count from the first day of dengue fever.
Other important facts
- Mosquitoes, that carry the dengue virus, bites only during the daytime, peak hours are before sunrise and sunset.
- To avoid the attack of virus on your kids, you can use electric vapor mats and mosquito coils.
- For kids, it is essential to use mosquito nets during bedtime to avoid bites.
- The more severe form of dengue is also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which gradually becomes the reason of the death of the patient. Everyone should be vigilant when it comes to dengue cases, as the only way to save lives of kids is the right medication and attention.
- Kids suffering from early stages of dengue yet can be treated at home; they just need plenty of fluids, bed rest, and nutritious foods.
- Actually, no vaccine can treat dengue fever as a virus causes it.
- It is important to destroy the every possible breeding place of the mosquitoes.
- The best precaution is to remove stagnant water from tires, plastic bags, bottles, and cans.
Precaution is the best way to stay away from dengue.
Related links:
Precautions for malaria
Home remedies to cure malaria
Related links:
Precautions for malaria
Home remedies to cure malaria
Dengue is also popularly known as "break-bone fever.” This viral disease spreads through severe mosquito bites. A mosquito known as Aedes Aegypti is the principal transmitter of this disease. Every year anywhere from 50 to 390, million people fall ill with dengue, resulting in more than half a million being hospitalized. The main symptom of Dengue is high fever with rashes everywhere on the body. Most kids suffering from Dengue remain ill for about 10 days. Therefore, one can recover from Dengue, if given right kind of treatment within prescribed time.
For keeping your kids protected from Dengue, follow these steps:
- Citronella Oil-Based Creams - Always ensure that you use citronella oil-based cream, spray, and herbal mosquito repellents to protect your kids from Dengue. Use a repellent that contains 30-50% DEET in it for children over 3 months of age.
- Mosquito Nets - Mosquito nets are essential for kids while they sleep in afternoon. If you do not already have them, install these on their beds. In addition, fix mosquito meshes on windows to avoid mosquitoes enter your house.
- Long-Sleeve Clothes - Protect your kids by making them wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when they go out for playing.
- Staying in safe places - If you are travelling to a dengue-infected area, try to stay in clean hotels and resorts to avoid contact with mosquitoes. In addition, ensure that your room is air-conditioned and proper measures have been taken to reduce the mosquito population.
- EPA-Registered Repellent - Spray the clothes of your kids with EPA-registered repellent for greater protection. This repellent contains permethrin that helps in keeping mosquitoes away from your kids. Remember, not use permethrin on the skin.
Hope these tips will help you to safeguard yourself and your family from dengue.
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