Dengue: How this virus works
A mystery viral fever is killing children in several Indian states this September. Some feel it’s a dengue / \malaria variant, while other researchers suggest it might be a flu offshoot. Dengue attacks are not just a 2021 phenomenon though. This fever is often in the news, more so during the monsoon and just at the beginning of autumn. This is because dengue outbreaks, at least in the case of India, are closely related to rainfall. Let’s see how that happens.
What is dengue and what causes it?
Dengue is a viral infection marked by high fever and aches. The dengue virus is caused and spread by infected Aedes mosquitos biting humans. So dengue affects more people when the number of mosquitos increases. Since this usually happens in wet climate, dengue is largely a seasonal disease, though it can happen any time an infected Aedes mosquito bites.
How to spot the symptoms of dengue?
Common dengue symptoms are high fever, headaches, pain and burning sensation in the eyes, ache in the entire body, fatigue. Severe cases of dengue are marked by skin rashes, abdominal pain with nausea or vomiting, unusual bleeding form the gums, skin bruises and dehydration from fever. Muscle and joint pains make the victim lethargic, and fever weakens them further. A doctor should be consulted immediately if these symptoms are spotted. If detected early, dengue might get cured without antibiotics.
What are the complications caused by dengue?
Sometimes dengue reduces after the first 2-4 days. That is when the disease may enter a critical phase since a physical shock develops. This shock occurs when the fluid portion of the blood called plasma leaks into the abdomen, lung spaces etc. This fluid leak can cause abdominal swelling and respiratory problems, and lower platelet count. A very high temperature is another problem for children since it may cause convulsions. While recovering, many patients develop red and itchy patches of rash on legs.
How to prevent dengue?
Curbing the mosquito population is the best protection against dengue. Apart from using nets and repellents, mosquitos breed less if stagnant water and rubbish are not allowed to accumulate. Homes should be clean and ventilated to discourage mosquitos and stop dengue.