P. A. Chacko
Dengue is a viral infection. The culprit is the female Aedes aegypti mosquito.
It causes flu-like symptoms. The symptoms are: high fever, severe headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, rash, pain behind eyes, etc. Severe cases can cause persistent vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing. If it goes into serious complications, it can be life threatening.
It is said that there is no specific treatment for dengue. Supportive care is advised, such as pain relief, fluids and rest.
In 2010 there were about 33 million cases in the country.
2021: 20,141
2022:12, 971
2023: 13,924
2024: 12,514
The high incidence of dengue is reported in West Bengal, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.
Moderate: Assam, Chattisgarh, Himachal, Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttrakhand.
Low: Goa, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Puduchery.
Some preventive measures can be taken to ward off the menace:
Keep the house and surrounding area clean
Cover all water storage containers with a proper lid.
Do not let water accumulate anywhere in the house.
Wear clothes that can cover your arms and legs during the rainy season.
Use mosquito nets if there are mosquitoes in your home.
Use mosquito repellent cream.
Plant lemon grass, tulsi and Indian mint near home as mosquito repellents.
Have a dengue-free life¡