DENGUE is a constant threat and the number of reported cases has been steadily climbing.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
A total of 63,198 dengue cases were reported in Selangor last year. This year as at Feb 2, there are already 7,335 dengue cases in the state which is unusually high compared to previous years.
The Health Ministry, local governments, NGOs and residents associations are working closely to fight the spread dengue by having persistent awareness campaigns, fogging, premises inspection and holding gotong-royong.
To help paint a clearer picture about the disease, here are some facts and myths about dengue.
Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever
Facts
1 Dengue actually comes in not one, but two forms!
There are actually two variants of dengue. One is dengue fever (DF) and the other is dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), with the latter being more severe. The DHF variation symptoms include bleeding and occasional shocks that lead to death, mostly in children.
The symptoms of DF include sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes which worsens with eye movement, body aches, joint pains and nausea or vomiting.
In addition to the above, the symptoms of DHF include greater discomfort such as severe and continuous pain in abdomen; bleeding from the nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising; frequent vomiting with or without blood; black stool like tar; excessive thirst (dry mouth); pale, cold skin; restlessness or sleepiness.
2 Global burden of dengue
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. In 2015, an increase in the number of cases was reported in Brazil and several neighbouring countries.
The Pacific island countries of Fiji, Tonga and French Polynesia have continued to record high number of cases. Dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries.
An estimated 500,000 people with severe dengue require hospitalisation each year, a large proportion of whom are children. About 2.5% of this figure eventually succumb to the disease.
3 Mosquitoes are mainly attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat
According to CNN.com, carbon dioxide and heat are the biggest draws for mosquitoes. Scent can also play a role. Your sweat and other skin secretions can potentially attract more bites than another individual. Evidence suggests mosquitoes tend to prefer men over women, adults over children and larger people over smaller ones.
4 There is no specific medicine or immunisation available currently
Though at this point there is no specific drug to treat dengue, proper and early treatment can relieve the symptoms and prevent complications and death. If one or more signs of DHF are seen, the patient must be taken to the hospital immediately.
Give fluids to drink while transferring the patient to the hospital. There is also no vaccine to protect against dengue fever. The World Health Organisation provides technical advice and guidance to countries and private partners to support vaccine research and evaluation.
5 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes tend to bite people more during daytime
The peak feeding time for these mosquitoes usually occurs around the early hours of the morning or evening just before dusk. People who prefer to go outdoors during these periods should be extra cautious.
MYTHS
Some probably would have heard that consuming bananas during the night ultimately increases your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes. Well, according to a study conducted by CNN in 2012, fruits, including bananas and garlic have actually been proven not to influence mosquito bites all that much.
7 They prefer women
Rumours of women being more susceptible to mosquito bites have also been one the myths many people believe in when it comes to getting bitten by one of these pesky insects. However, no studies have deemed this to be true. The theory suggested that women released more hormones, especially during the time of their ovulation; therefore, becoming more “attractive” to get bitten by the mosquitoes. However, no studies have been able to prove the truth behind this suggested theory.
8 Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes
Despite being a common myth among folks, in actuality, wearing black clothing does not equate to a person getting bitten nor being more susceptible from getting mosquito bites.
9 You cannot get dengue twice
Many have the misconception that once a person has suffered dengue fever before, it will not be able to recur. This statement is false as patients can in fact, get dengue more than once in their lifetime. Dengue is caused by a virus of four different strains. Therefore being infected once does not mean the person is unable to contract the virus again.
10 Transferred via physical contact
The belief that an infected person is able to transmit the virus through physical contact is false. Dengue is carried by a vector which is the Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes spread the virus through biting an infected person.
Information source: World Health Organisation & CNN.com
http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2016/02/20/top-10-myths-and-facts-about-dengue-some-useful-information-on-the-viral-fever-and-mosquitoes/Click on Healthwise for more articles
See also:
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2016/02/a-vaccine-against-dengue.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2016/02/papaya-leaf-juice-can-help-in-recovery.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2015/03/gm-mosquito-project-shelved.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/09/first-vaccine-for-dengue-fever-shows.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/05/brazil-2014-world-cup-dengue-fever-risk.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/04/alternative-treatments-for-dengue-fever.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/02/dengue-fever-seek-treatment-if-you.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/02/the-dengue-menace.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/02/keep-aedes-away-with-garlic-lemongrass.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/02/anti-mosquito-plant-selling-like-hot.html
http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2011/11/dengue-fever.html
