5 Effective Tips to Prevent Dengue

What is Dengue?

One of the fatal viral diseases that humans can get infected with, Dengue is transmitted to human beings by a specific mosquito species called the female Aedes aegypti mosquito.

It’s a hugely infectious disease that causes severe fever, headaches, significant muscle & joint pain, pain in the eyes and whole body.

What causes Dengue?

A person gets infected with Dengue when he/she is bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito.

Once the dengue virus (DENV) enters the body through mosquito-to-human transmission, the human can then transmit dengue to other people around them via the human-to-mosquito-to-human transmission cycle.

What are the symptoms of Dengue?

The most common symptoms of Dengue include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Eye pain (generally behind the eyes)
• Muscle/joint/bone pain
• Rash
• Nausea & vomiting

Tips to prevent Dengue

1) Use mosquito repellent

One of the most effective ways to prevent dengue is to simply use mosquito repellent creams, particularly in tropical climate locations with high populations.

It’s recommended to use mosquito repellent creams containing any of the following active ingredients:

• DEET
• IR3535
• Picaridin (called KBR 3023 & icaridin outside the US)
• Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-Menthane-Diol (PMD)
• 2-Undecanone

2) Wear protective clothing

Another easy way to protect against mosquito bites and dengue is to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, boots, etc.

This works by minimising the area of your body that can get bitten by the infected mosquitoes.

3) Control mosquitoes inside & outside your home

Prevent the accumulation of stagnant water in objects in & around your house and prevent any constant damp areas in your surroundings.

Implementing these actions will eradicate the habitats of dengue-causing mosquitoes.

4) Plan your trips, taking into account the climate & weather

Dengue is typically spread during the rainy season due to the prevalent humidity. It’s a very common disease in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

Hence, avoid travelling to such locations during monsoon unless absolutely necessary.

5) Take precautionary measures when going on a trip

When travelling to areas with tropical climates, it’s well-advised to take a few measures to boost protection against dengue. This includes:

• Carrying a travel health kit containing mosquito repellent creams
• Acquiring knowledge about the health risks associated with your travel destination
• Around 1 month prior to the trip, visit a doctor who is well-versed with travel medicine
• Take along netted sleeping bags for extra protection during night time
• Immediately visit a doctor if you experience fever, headache, rash, or muscle/joint pain following the trip

Conclusion

Every year, around 400 million people get infected with the dengue virus. Without quick appropriate treatment, dengue usually results in dengue haemorrhagic fever, which is a potentially fatal condition.

Hence, following the above mentioned proven tips can help reduce the risk of you or your loved ones getting infected with the dengue virus. Always remember that precaution is better than cure!

If you are looking to get a diagnostic scan or lab test done in Mulund or nearby areas, then call us 24×7 on 9504555555 to book an appointment at your nearest centre.