Sudden, high fever may be dengue: Watch out for other warning symptoms

The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). An estimated 100-400 million infections are reported each year, the organization said.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection mainly caused by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. The virus responsible for the disease is called dengue virus (DENV), which has four serotypes. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Most dengue cases occur in tropical areas of the world, including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan and The Pacific Islands.

Symptoms of Dengue

Dengue leads to a severe, flu-like illness, but seldom causes death. WHO classifies dengue into two major categories: dengue (with /without warning signs) and severe dengue. Usually, a person develops symptoms four to six days after infection and the symptoms last for up to 10 days. Dengue is suspected if you have a sudden high fever (40°C/104°F) accompanied by two of the following symptoms:

Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Severe joint and muscle pain
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
Mild bleeding (such a nose bleeding, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)
Swollen glands

Severe dengue is a potentially fatal complication that occurs normally about 3-7 days after illness onset. It can lead to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, or organ impairment. Warning signs associated with severe dengue can manifest when the fever starts dropping (below 38°C/100°F) in the patient. One should watch out for these warning signs of severe dengue-

severe abdominal pain
persistent vomiting
rapid breathing
bleeding gums
fatigue
restlessness
blood in vomit.

If a patient shows this symptoms, he/she should be kept in close observation with proper medical care to avoid complications and risk of death.

Tips to stay guarded this monsoon

Dengue is more common during the monsoon season. The best way to prevent dengue is to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Following the tips below may help reduce your risk of mosquito bites:

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. So, eliminate sources of stagnant water around you. Turn over tin cans, buckets, old tires, empty flowerpots and other artificial containers so that they do not collect water.
Keep the buckets and drums that are used for storing water covered.
Change the water in pet bowls, bird baths, rain barrels and plant containers at least once a week.
Discard the plants that you keep in water at home.
Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk, as many species of mosquitoes are most active during this time. Also keep windows and doors closed during these hours.
Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes, if possible, to limit exposed skin.
Apply mosquito repellents whenever possible or wear mosquito patches.
Clean your cooler regularly.
Keep the dustbins clean to avoid mosquitoes breeding on it.
Use a mosquito net while sleeping.
Adult mosquitoes tend to lurk in dark areas such as closets, behind curtains, under beds. Keep toddlers and infants away from such areas.
Ensure proper lighting in your home.