Debosmita Ghosh • 01 Oct 2024
Bangladesh Witnesses Surge In Dengue Cases; Symptoms And Preventive Measures Of The Vector-Borne Disease
Bangladesh Witnesses Surge In Dengue Cases
Bangladesh has been witnessing a surge in dengue cases. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, a total of 1,221 people were diagnosed with dengue fever. This is the highest number of cases in a single day so far this year. In the same period, eight people died due to the mosquito-borne disease, raising the death toll to 158 so far this year.
The ministry also said that with the fresh infections, the total number of dengue cases stands at 29,786 in Bangladesh. Xinhua news agency reported that in order to fight to increasing number of dengue cases, the health authorities have strengthened measures to check the breeding of mosquitoes and conduct anti-larval operations. The June-September monsoon period is the season of dengue fever in Bangladesh which is considered to be a high-risk nation for mosquito-borne diseases.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that is common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. Mayo Clinic says that the severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and even death.
There are no treatments or cures for dengue. Therefore, it is important that you seek medical advice when you start to see the early symptoms; high fever being one of them. Here, take a look at some of the symptoms of dengue other than dengue.
- Headache
- Muscle, bone or joint pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
- Swollen glands
- Rash.
While most people recover within a week or so, the condition might worsen for some people and become life-threatening. This is known as severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. In such cases, the platelets drop which can cause shock, internal bleeding, organ failure and even death. Other signs of severe dengue are:
- Severe stomach pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Bleeding from your gums or nose
- Blood in your urine, stools or vomit
- Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
- Difficult or rapid breathing
- Fatigue
- Irritability or restlessness.
Preventive Measures for Dengue
Here, take a look at some of the preventive measures for dengue fever.
- Get Rid of Breeding Sites: Remove stagnant water in containers like flower pots, buckets and tyres to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Use Insect Repellents: Apply repellents containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin to deter mosquito bites.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to reduce skin exposure.
- Use Mosquito Nets: Sleep under treated mosquito nets, especially in dengue-prone areas.
- Install Window Screens: Keep windows and doors closed or install screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- Use Mosquito Coils/Repellents Indoors: Use coils, plug-in-repellent devices, or sprays indoors to prevent mosquito bites.
- Stay Indoors During Peak Mosquito Activity: Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Fogging Programs: Participate in local mosquito control initiatives like fogging campaigns to reduce the mosquito population.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Keep surroundings clean to avoid mosquito breeding grounds.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.