What you must know about dengue

New Delhi: Dengue has returned in Delhi with a vengeance and more than 81 residents are admitted to hospitals down with the deadly fever.

The sudden return of the disease has forced the state government to form 12 special task forces to combat what could turn out to be an epidemic.

Lanes and bylanes of the capital are being fumigated to ward off the dengue mosquito. But for some it's already too late as six people have already succumbed.

In recent years dengue has become a major public health concern, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Epidemiologists believe that the breeding of Ades mosquito can be contained if people are sufficiently aware of the causes and effects of the deadly carrier of the dengue virus.

"The reason is that people are not careful enough, in 90 per cent of cases, water coolers have mosquitoes breeding," says Delhi's Municipal Health Officer, N K Yadav.

This perhaps, becomes an excuse for the administration to pass the buck on the people and get away by not doing enough.

Dengue alert

• Dengue is a viral fever caused by the Aedes mosquito.

• While malaria is caused by the Anopheles mosquito and there are definite anti-malarials available, no specific anti-virals available for dengue.

• Dengue can often be confused with influenza, typhoid, meningitis and viral hepatitis.

• It can be prevented by a ing mosquito breeding in stagnating water, in broken flower-pots and old tyres. Coolers must be cleaned regularly. Use mosquito nets at night and if you get fever see a doctor immediately.

If diagnosed with dengue:

• Keep the patient inside a mosquito net and give him/her a liquid diet. For fever or pain do not give Aspirin or Brufen and don't ignore even minor bleeding as it could be a sign of complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

• Indications of complications include bleeding from the gums, nostrils, skin or rectal bleeding. Cold and clammy skin, low blood pressure, weak pulse rate and drop in blood platelets are some of the other signs.

• In case of complications hospitalisation may be required. As of now no vaccines are available and treatment is largely symptomatic. For headache and body ache Paracetamol is recommended.

Source: CNN-IBN