The situation of the dengue virus has gone out of control across the country. According to the Sindh Health Department, the number of people affected by dengue has increased to more than 730 in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan.
How does this disease spread in the form of an epidemic and how can it be avoided?
How does dengue spread?
Dengue is a disease spread by female mosquitoes. After the flood situation in different parts of Pakistan, due to standing water, the number of mosquitoes has increased tremendously. Therefore, this disease has become an epidemic in the country.
What are the symptoms?
Dengue first presents with flu-like symptoms with a high fever. When symptoms appear 4 to 10 days after being bitten by a female mosquito infected with the dengue virus, most people start to ignore it as the result of the flu.
But gradually other symptoms also start to appear like fever reaching 103, 104 in dengue, pain in muscles, bones, or joints, nausea, vomiting, and pain inside the eyes starts, the patient starts feeling drowsy. And symptoms like allergies start appearing in the body.
Could it be serious?
Most dengue patients recover within a week, but many times the symptoms worsen.
Dengue becomes more severe when the blood in the body starts to become thinner, with frequent bleeding from the mouth, nose, gums, or other parts of the body. This happens because in dengue the number of blood clotting cells, namely platelets, decreases.
The normal number of platelets in a healthy person ranges from 150,000 to 450,000, but in dengue, this number decreases and reaches 20,000-40,000. In severe cases, a blood transfusion may be required.
Is it possible to cure it?
There is no clear cure for dengue fever but doctors prescribe different types of medicines to reduce its symptoms.
Along with taking the medicine, the patient should consume fresh fruit juices, especially apple juice, this will not only increase the number of platelets but will also be beneficial in eliminating the weakness of the body.
What precautions to follow?
To prevent dengue, use mosquito repellent, try to keep mosquitoes away from windows and mosquito nets on your sleeves, shirts and socks on your feet.
If someone in the house has dengue, take extra precautions to protect yourself and other family members because if the patient is bitten by a common mosquito, the dengue virus can be transferred to him, after which that mosquito can spread the virus further.
Never ignore dengue, this disease can be fatal. As soon as symptoms of dengue appear, consult a doctor immediately.
