By Talal Qureshi
Recently, a dengue outbreak was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in which more than 700 patients were diagnosed with Dengue fever.
“Dengue”, since 2011, this word resurfaces in news during summers. Dengue mosquitoes need humid and tropical environment to breed. It has been declared the fastest spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world and it has been here, since the ancient times, even reported in the earliest Chinese medical encyclopedia. It can be avoided if proper precautions and measures are taken.
Symptoms:
If you feel any of these symptoms specially in monsoon, kindly contact a doctor or rush to your nearest hospital. It might take a week for the symptoms to appear.
- Severe Headaches and high fever
- Joints and muscle ache
- Rashes
- Pain behind the eyes
- Bleeding through gums and nose
- Vomiting and nausea
Diagnosis:
Doctors might order some blood tests for the diagnosis.
Prevention:
Mosquitoes are usually born in humid and impure patches of water, tires, flower pots, water coolers.
- Cover the water containers
- Clean the water containers once a week.
- Apply mosquito repellants on the body.
- Wear clothes that cover your body fully, indoors or outdoors.
- Install meshes for windows and doors.
- Scents and Perfumes might attract mosquitoes so avoid them.
- Try to avoid to go out at dawn and dusk.
- Stagnant Water is a dengue hub, avoid standing or walking by it.