Dengue – If Not Treated in Time, Could Mean Trouble!

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus, which is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Fever caused by dengue can vary from mild to severe and the patient may need to be hospitalized. The actual number of Dengue cases in our country is many times higher than what is reported.

Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms usually begin 4-7 days following the mosquito bite and last for 3-10 days. Sometimes, the dengue symptoms are mild and may often be mistaken for those of a viral infection or flu. Mild infection may present symptoms like:

• High fever that comes on suddenly
• Severe headaches
• Severe pain in the muscles and joints
• Pain right at the back of your eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes appearing 2-5 days following the onset of fever
• Mild bleeding from gums and the nose

Whereas, serious infections, such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever may present symptoms like a mild infection at first, but may gradually worsen after a number of days. This severe infection can result in Dengue Shock Syndrome, which can even lead to death if not treated in time. Apart from the above dengue symptoms, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever may show symptoms like:

• Bleeding from mouth/gums and nose
• Damaged lymph and blood vessels
• Internal bleeding, resulting in black vomit and faeces (stools)
• Fall in the platelet count in the blood
• Sensitive stomach
• Small blood spots under your skin
• Weak pulse

Diagnosis of Dengue Fever

The signs and symptoms of dengue fever are similar to some other diseases like typhoid fever and malaria, which can many a time lead to inaccurate diagnosis. Doctors can order blood tests to detect the virus.

Treatment and Prevention of Dengue Fever

Dengue has no specific cure or treatment but there are some ways to treat mild dengue fever:

• Avoid Dehydration – Vomiting and high fever can leave your body dehydrated, so drink plenty of fresh water
• Pain Killers – Pain killers can help to ease the aches and pains, but take them only after consulting a physician as some painkillers may higher the chances of internal bleeding

Treatment Options

• IV Drip (Intravenous fluid supplementation)– Sometimes a dengue patient may not be able to take fluids orally and an IV drip may be required for fluid supplementation at the hospital.
• Blood transfusion – Patients with extreme dehydration may be recommended to go for a Blood transfusion.
• Hospital care – For people suffering from severe Dengue Infection, professional medical care is important, so that they can be monitored properly.

Prevention

There are no vaccines to prevent this infection, but since its virus is carried by mosquitoes, one can take precautions against mosquito bites. Some common precautions to be taken are:

• Wear long-sleeved clothes
• Use mosquito nets while sleeping
• Cover windows and doors with a net to keep mosquitoes out
• Use mosquito repellants with higher DEET
• Stagnant water is the breeding ground for mosquitoes, so do not allow water to collect anywhere near your home/premises

Medica has a comprehensive unit dedicated to Internal Medicine, where skilled Doctors, Nurses and technicians work in sync 24X7 to deliver the best possible treatment with the help of a fully equipped ICU and Emergency department. With state-of-the-art technology and modern equipment, Medica treats patients with compassion as well as competence and is ready to handle any type of emergency.
For any kind of emergency, contact us at +913366520100 or Internal Medicine: 9874478915