Dengue treatment
Dengue Fever: Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention
The Aedes mosquito causes dengue fever. If you are bitten by a mosquito that carries the dengue virus, you will get dengue fever. The infection should not be neglected. If Dengue fever progresses to a severe stage, it can threaten life. This article will discuss the symptoms, treatments, home remedies, and preventions for dengue fever.
What is Dengue?
Dengue is a viral infection that is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. The disease is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and it is estimated that there are over 400 million cases of Dengue each year. The virus that causes Dengue is called DENV, and there are four DENV serotypes. It is possible to be infected four times with the virus.
However, there is no specific treatment for Dengue, but it can be prevented by protecting against mosquito bites. The Aedes mosquito typically lays its eggs in standing water, so removing sources of standing water can help to reduce the risk of dengue transmission.
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Signs of Dengue Fever
There are some symptoms to look for to know whether it is dengue fever or not. Such as feeling cold, loss of appetite, body aches, headache, pain in the eyes, lower back pain, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and skin-eye redness.
In the first few hours of dengue infection, pain is felt in the legs and joints. Fever can rise very quickly to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Heart rate and blood pressure are low during this time. A red or pink rash may appear on the face, which then disappears.
High fever and other dengue symptoms last for 2-4 days, and then the body temperature drops rapidly with sweating. Body temperature remains normal for about a day before the second rapid rise in fever, and feels healthy. Later, an itchy rash appears all over the body except the face. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet may be bright red and swollen.
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Severe Symptoms of Dengue
Sometimes dengue infection is very serious or fatal. It is called severe Dengue. Symptoms of severe Dengue appear 3-7 days after the initial symptoms of Dengue. People who have been infected with Dengue before are at higher risk of severe Dengue.
The main symptoms of severe Dengue are severe abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, vomiting blood, bleeding from the gums, bleeding under the skin, difficulty or rapid breathing, feeling cold or sweating, rapid pulse, and drowsiness/loss of consciousness. If you see the symptoms of severe Dengue, you should go to the emergency department of the hospital without a moment's delay.
How to Diagnose Dengue Fever
If you see any dengue symptoms or have a serious fever, you should consult a registered doctor for further investigations. Not every fever is Dengue. Self-diagnosed for Dengue leaves other common causes of fever, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection, typhoid, flu, etc., undiagnosed.
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Patient's signs, symptoms, and physical examination data can help to diagnose the disease. However, results may vary from the first day to the next 10 days of dengue fever in different tests. So, self-testing can be confusing. Therefore, it would be wise to let the doctor understand first.
Doctors initially diagnose Dengue through NS1, CBC, IgG, and IgM. A maximum of Tk. 500 can be charged for the dengue NS1 Antigen test. A maximum of Tk. 400 can be taken for CBC (RBC + WBC + Hematocrit) test. Apart from this, IgG and IgM tests should be done within 500 Takas.
Treatment and Home Remedies of Dengue Fever
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever, but there are ways to ease the symptoms. Pain relievers, rest, and fluids can help to reduce fever and pain. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary in order to receive intravenous fluids and close monitoring.
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At the initial stage, take rest and drink plenty of water or liquid food. If the body is hydrated, headaches and muscle pain will be reduced. Drink coconut water, lemon juice, fruit juice, and saline at home.
Paracetamol can be taken to reduce the fever. However, a doctor's consultancy is needed if the patient has heart, liver, and kidney-related complications.
Aspirin, Clofenac, and Ibuprofen-like medicines should not be taken for body pain when suffering from dengue fever. Taking such medicines during Dengue can cause bleeding.
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What not to do
Platelets are no longer a key factor in dengue fever. There is no need to worry about the platelet count. If the platelet count falls below 10,000 or if there is bleeding from any part of the body, platelets or fresh blood can be given if necessary. However, such situations are very rare.
Many people say that eating papaya leaf juice etc. increases platelets. Actually, these have no role. After the fever subsides, platelets begin to grow by themselves after the crisis period has passed. At the end of the fever, the blood pressure may drop, or there may be bleeding from the gums, nose, or rectum. If this is the case, intravenous saline may be needed. In these cases, hospital admission is required.
When to go to the hospital
In the case of Dengue, what kind of treatment to take, staying at home or in a hospital, depends on its type or category. There are three types or categories of dengue fever - 'A,' 'B,' and 'C.' Patients in the first category are normal. They only have a fever. Most dengue patients are in the 'A' category. They do not require hospitalization. Resting at home is enough.
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Category 'B' dengue patients may require hospitalization. Certain symptoms, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, congenital problems, and kidney or liver problems, are recommended for hospitalization.
Category 'C' dengue fever is the worst. It can damage the liver, kidneys, and brain. In some cases, an intensive care unit or ICU may be required.
So, you have to follow the doctor's instructions.
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Dengue Fever Season in Bangladesh
Generally, the dengue outbreak occurs from July to October in Bangladesh, as the Aedes mosquito spreads during this period. But we have to be careful throughout the year as in some years; Dengue started in June.
Preventive Measures for Dengue Fever
The Aedes mosquito usually lays its eggs in clear water. So, make sure water does not stay for more than three to five days. This water can accumulate anywhere. Aedes mosquitoes breed in the water collected on the roof of the house or in the flower tub of the balcony, at various points of the building under construction, tires lying on the side of the road, or in other containers.
So, check if there is any stagnant water in any places around the house. Also, use mosquito nets and spray in the house. Additionally, use mosquito repellent cream while going out or staying at home.
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Final Words
In Bangladesh, the Dengue death toll is rising every year. Especially in the cities and towns, many inhabitants are being affected by Dengue fever. Some prevention measures for Dengue can minimize the spread of the disease.
However, all fevers are not Dengue. So, make sure you know the sign and symptoms of Dengue Fever to determine if you have it or not. You may also get affected by viral fever too. So far, we have discussed the diagnosis process of Dengue fever. Proper consultations with doctors are essential to avoid serious medical conditions. If proper treatment for Dengue fever is provided the patient can be cured.
2 years ago
Dengue vs. Severe Dengue: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
Although the symptoms of mosquito-borne dengue fever are similar to those of the flu, the disease can be fatal. From the beginning of the monsoon season, dengue fever patients flock to hospitals and doctors with various symptoms. However, symptoms may include high fever from the first day, severe headache, pain in the eyes, body aches, reddening of the skin, and in some cases, rashes on the skin.
It should be remembered that the fever at this time does not mean only dengue. Other fevers with nearby symptoms are also appearing. In addition to other viral fevers, waterborne typhoid fever is also occurring. Therefore, in case of fever, it is better to take the treatment after confirming the symptoms and, if necessary, examination. With that note, let's know the causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention of dengue.
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Dengue vs. Severe Dengue
We should not be sure without any test. But, if a high fever of 40°C or 104°F is accompanied with any 2 of the following symptoms should be suspected as dengue.
- pain behind the eyes
- nausea
- severe headache
- muscle and joint pains
- swollen glands
- vomiting
- rash.
A patient enters the critical phase, usually after 3-7 days after the illness started. During this phase, the fever may drop below 38°C or 100°F. But the potentially fatal complications may start due to respiratory distress, plasma leaking, severe bleeding, or organ impairment, and fluid accumulation. All these can lead to severe dengue. The symptoms may include-
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- persistent vomiting
- restlessness
- severe abdominal pain
- blood in vomit
- bleeding gums
- rapid breathing
- fatigue
If these symptoms appear, the patient might have a chance to fall into a critical phase. Hence, a close observation becomes obvious for the next 24-28 hours. Furthermore, proper medical care is needed to avoid any complications and risk of death.
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What Causes Dengue Fever?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease spread by Aedes mosquito bites. The mosquito became infected with one of the four viruses closely related to the DENV virus, causing dengue fever. Aedes mosquitoes can be carriers of any one of the four viruses, and as a result, individuals can be infected by that particular virus. The Aedes mosquito can breed in stagnant water inside or outside the house and cannot fly more than 200 meters from its birthplace. However, these mosquitoes do not breed in ponds, ditches, and other reservoirs. This species of mosquito is more active in the morning and in the afternoon after sunset.
How Does the Aedes Mosquito Spread Dengue?
When an infected Aedes mosquito bites a healthy person, the mosquito transmits the dengue virus (one in four viruses) to that person. As a result, when an uninfected mosquito bites the person, the mosquito becomes a carrier of the dengue virus. Thus, it becomes a part of the process of spreading the disease.
The infected mosquito then bites another healthy person, and the disease spreads. A person who has once been infected with dengue can be infected with any one of the four viruses. However, a person who has already been infected with a particular virus cannot be re-infected with that particular virus. However, the symptoms of second-time infection are more severe than the first-time infection.
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According to research, 40 percent of the world's population or 3 billion people live in places where dengue is most likely to be transmitted. Symptoms of dengue fever usually appear 4 to 7 days after a mosquito bite and last for 3 to 7 days. Although dengue fever is a highly contagious disease, it can be easily cured if the symptoms are detected at an early stage.
Therefore, it is very important to know the symptoms of this disease in order to get timely treatment to avoid complications like heart, lung, or liver damage. Also, in some cases, dengue can cause blood pressure to drop drastically, which can lead to injury and even death.
3 years ago
20 more dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
With the increase in the number of dengue patients, Bangladesh on Tuesday reported 20 new cases in the last 24 hours across the country.
4 years ago