Dengue On the Rise!
Symptoms of Dengue Fever Include :
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Nausea / vomiting
• Rash
• Hemorrhagic manifestations - Bleeding in to the skin, blood stained vomitting, nose bleeding etc
If you have these symptoms, ask your physician to order a test for dengue fever.
If you have dengue:
• Avoid mosquito bites while you have a fever.
• Don't let mosquitoes bite you. They can infect other members of your family with dengue after biting you.
• Use mosquito barriers until the fever subsides, to prevent day-biting mosquitoes from biting a sick person, becoming infected, and then biting someone else.
• Rest in a screened room or under a bed net.
• Use insect repellents and spray insecticide indoors if there are mosquitoes.
Treatment:
• Rest, drink plenty of fluids and consult a physician.
• Avoid pain relievers that contain aspirin and non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.
Acetaminophen or paracetamol may be used.
To eliminate mosquito breeding sites and reduce the risk of dengue, check around your house and empty water from buckets, cans, flower pots and other items.