Dengue

Dengue is an illness caused by the bite of a dengue mosquito that breeds in standing water. It produces severe physical symptoms such as high fever and body aches, and it causes the level of blood platelets to fall.

How mosquitoes breed and spread dengue

Mosquitoes multiply when rainwater collects in open areas and remains stagnant for several days without being cleared away. These insects gather in large numbers around the standing pool of water, settle down, and produce even more mosquitoes over time. Once these insects have multiplied, a dengue mosquito can easily fly from the stagnant water over to people nearby and bite them, transferring the dengue illness directly into the body.

Symptoms of the illness

• High fever that sets in after being bitten by a dengue mosquito.
• Severe headaches along with intense muscle pain and joint pain throughout the body.
• A skin rash that appears across parts of the body during the illness.
• A noticeable drop in blood platelets, which are essential components present inside our blood, identified when a doctor performs a blood test.

Medical care and recovery

A person who experiences the symptoms of dengue must visit a doctor immediately and get admitted to a hospital for proper care. Hospital staff and doctors provide patients with painkillers and antibiotics to treat their condition and help them recover. In addition to taking medicines, patients must consistently drink plenty of water throughout the day to ensure that their bodies do not suffer from dehydration.

Steps to prevent dengue

• Clean up and remove any stagnant water around the home immediately so that mosquitoes cannot gather and start a family there.
• Keep all doors and windows closed properly in the evening hours to make sure that mosquitoes cannot enter the house.
• Drink water only after it has been boiled well to stay safe.
• Use a mosquito spray inside the home if any mosquitoes manage to get indoors.
• Wear full coverage clothes on the body so mosquitoes cannot easily bite the skin.