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Don't panic, but don't ignore dengue symptoms: Dr Hemant Thacker
Don’t panic, but don’t ignore dengue symptoms: Dr Hemant Thacker - Mumbai - DNA
After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from three to 15 days, when the patient starts exhibiting symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes and lower backache.
Painful ache in the legs and joints occurs during the first few hours of the illness. The temperature rises quickly to as high as 104 degrees F, with low heart rate and blood pressure. The eyes become reddened. A flushing pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands in the neck are often swollen. Dengue is also called break-bone fever as victims often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain.
People should not ignore any kind of fever — they must immediately visit their family doctor and on his suggestion, they should take the required blood test. Self-medication is the most dangerous thing when it comes to dengue. Also, once they feel slightly better, patients should not stop medication half-way through a course.
Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic for it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms. Patients have to take proper rest and a large intake of liquids.
DHF is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if undiagnosed and not treated properly. DHF is caused by an infection with the same viruses that causes dengue. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%.
Don’t panic, but don’t ignore dengue symptoms: Dr Hemant Thacker - Mumbai - DNA
After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from three to 15 days, when the patient starts exhibiting symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes and lower backache.
Painful ache in the legs and joints occurs during the first few hours of the illness. The temperature rises quickly to as high as 104 degrees F, with low heart rate and blood pressure. The eyes become reddened. A flushing pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands in the neck are often swollen. Dengue is also called break-bone fever as victims often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain.
People should not ignore any kind of fever — they must immediately visit their family doctor and on his suggestion, they should take the required blood test. Self-medication is the most dangerous thing when it comes to dengue. Also, once they feel slightly better, patients should not stop medication half-way through a course.
Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic for it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms. Patients have to take proper rest and a large intake of liquids.
DHF is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if undiagnosed and not treated properly. DHF is caused by an infection with the same viruses that causes dengue. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%.
