India 29 August 2016: Dengue a life threatening mosquito bites. Dengue belongs to family of Flaviviridae, that is spread by bite of infected ades mosquitoes. Dengue was first recorded in Madras (now Chennai) in 1780 and virolically proved epidemic of Dengue Fever in India occurred in Calcutta and Eastern Coast of India in 1963-1964-57. Dengue serum samples were also found in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1944 of US Soldiers. Dengue viruses (DV) belong to family Flaviviridae and there are four serotypes of the virus referred to as DV-1, DV-2, DV-3 and DV-4.
Dengue is a word derived from Swahili phrase Ka-dinga pepo, meaning “cramp-like seizure”. Dengue is an acute viral infection which originated from water and is also was first referred as water poison as it associates with flying insects. This disease used to be called as break bone fever as sometimes it causes severe joint and muscle pain that originates the feeling of breaking of bones. Dengue now has been in existence from more than 200 years.
In Delhi, Dengue fever has shown major presence as in 1996 more than 10,000 cases were detected with dengue and 400 deaths were reported.
As per Dr Sudhish Sehra, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, “It is also seen that mosquitoes when they bite dengue infected human they also get infected with dengue and later when they bite another human than later dengue is transmitted. Dengue cannot be transmitted from person to person without dengue infected mosquito.”
Dengue majorly attacks during day time and attacking areas are below elbow and below the knee. Dengue is proven to be life threatening as sometimes it becomes so severe that can lead to heamorrege. Dengue mosquitoes infected cases are more prominent during the time period of August- October. The risk of dengue reduces after these months as dengue mosquitoes cannot breed during winters below 16 degree of temperature.
SYMPTOMS OF DENGUE FEVER
According to Dr Anurag Mahajan, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, PSRI Hospital,“Dengue symptoms generally shows effects 4 to 6 six days after the mosquito bite and lasts upto 10 days.”
· Sudden High Fever
· Severe headaches
· Pain behind the eyes
· Severe joint and muscle pain
· Fatigue
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Skin Rash
· Mild bleeding(such as nose bleed, gum bleeding or easy bruising.
Prevention, Diet & Lifestyle
According to Ayurevdacharya Dr Partap Chauhan, Director of Jiva Ayurveda, Most of the mosquito-spread infections can be prevented by discouraging the proliferation of mosquitoes. Keeping the surroundings clean, preventing unhealthy accumulation of water, spreading the water reservoirs with mosquito repellant chemicals & insecticides and keeping the domestic water covered reduces the scope for mosquito breeding and applies breaks on diseases like dengue.
Hunting down mosquitoes becomes particularly important during the epidemics of the disease and in the unclean areas. Accumulation of water can be prevented in such areas by filling up the ditches and closing up the drainages.
Maintaining individual health by proper diet, exercises and mental relaxation is important. As said already, not all people bitten by the mosquito develop the disease. So having strong immunity, balance of doshas and strong dhatus (tissues) certainly reduces the possibility of acquiring the disease and protects the individual health even if there is no vaccine for the disease.
Use of mosquito repellants, mosquito nets and covering the body by sufficient clothes can protect oneself from the mosquito bite and subsequent infection of virus.
Eating spicy, oily food, fried items and non-veg articles which can burden the gastric fire should be avoided completely and diet should be restricted to vegetarian alternatives. While fruits like citrus fruits, figs, papaya are acceptable, heavy fruits like banana and mangoes should not be eaten.
Food from open stalls and eateries should be avoided and water from unknown or unclean sources should not be drunk. Chyawanprash may be consumed to boost immunity.
Getting wet in rains should be avoided and in case of such an incident, wet clothes should be changed immediately.
Travelling into the areas where dengue is prevalent should be avoided.
Doing Yoga, Pranayama, spiritual reading proves useful and burning camphor or other similar latex discourages mosquito growth.