Dengue is a disease that is often talked about in our country these days, and it is a bit scary. Whether you watch TV, read a newspaper, or talk to your friends, you hear some news about dengue. So, what is dengue fever, what happens when it occurs, and how can we be careful about it, I am trying to talk to you in a simple way that you can understand. Imagine it as if a member of your own family or a best friend is telling you about this.
What is Dengue Fever? Simply put...
Simply put, dengue fever is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes . It is not transmitted directly from one person to another. This means that you cannot get dengue by talking to someone who has dengue or touching something they have touched. However, if you are bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus, you can get the disease.
Dengue fever causes symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and muscle aches. It can be a very painful experience. However, for most people, it is not life-threatening . Most people start to feel better within a few days and recover completely in about two weeks.
The most important thing to do to avoid dengue is to protect yourself from mosquitoes. Applying insect repellent, using a mosquito net when sleeping, and limiting your exposure to the outdoors in the evening and early morning (when mosquitoes are most active) can help reduce your risk of contracting the disease.
What are the symptoms of dengue fever? How does it feel?
In the past, dengue fever was also called "breakbone fever." The reason for this is that when this fever occurs, some people feel severe pain as if their bones and muscles are breaking. Actually, the fever cannot break bones, but the pain is so intense. Imagine, what if you felt like someone was squeezing your bones from inside your body? That's how some people feel.
Now let's look at the common symptoms of dengue fever:
- A very high fever (usually around 40 degrees Celsius, 104 degrees Fahrenheit).
- A pain coming from behind the eyes. It's like someone is pressing the eyeballs inward.
- Joint pain, muscle pain, bone pain.
- A severe headache.
- The skin all over the body, especially the chest, turns red on the outside, or it breaks out into small blisters .
- Even a small bruise can easily turn into a big bruise , and sometimes the body just turns blue.
However, for some people, this condition can be a little more serious. It is called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) . This is a little more dangerous. Initially, there are typical dengue fever symptoms for a few days. After the fever subsides, the following symptoms may appear:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- A severe stomach ache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Bleeding from the nose and gums.
- Vomiting blood, or passing blood in the stool (black stools).
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is a medical emergency. If you have these symptoms, you should go to the hospital immediately without delay. If not treated quickly, the body can start bleeding excessively, causing low blood pressure and even death.
How do we get dengue fever? The story of the mosquito
Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes. Imagine this: a mosquito bites a person with dengue fever, and the dengue virus enters the mosquito's body. Then, when the mosquito with that virus bites a healthy person, that virus passes to the body of a new person. That's when the new person gets dengue.
The most important thing is that dengue fever is not transmitted directly from person to person . That is, you cannot get dengue by being with someone who has dengue, drinking from a cup they have used, or shaking hands with them. The mosquito is the intermediary here.
How long does dengue fever last?
It can take up to two weeks for the dengue virus to enter the body and cause symptoms. This means that if a mosquito bites you today, you may not start feeling the fever until next week or even later.
However, not everyone gets symptoms. Some people can have dengue without any symptoms . But if symptoms do occur, these discomforts can last from a few days to about two weeks. Only then do they gradually recover.
How do you know for sure if you have dengue fever? What are the medical tests?
If you have the slightest suspicion that you or someone in your family has dengue fever, see a doctor immediately . Don't try to self-medicate at home. Especially these days, when dengue is spreading more, it's not a good idea to take a fever lightly.
This is how a doctor determines whether you have dengue fever:
1. First, you will be examined .
2. Ask about your symptoms, recent travel history, and medical history.
3. Then, you will be asked to do a blood test . This blood test will confirm whether or not you have the dengue virus in your body. It will also check if your platelet count has decreased.
What are the treatments for dengue fever? What should be done?
Unfortunately, there is no specific medicine yet to cure dengue fever. That is, there is no such thing as "take this pill and dengue will be cured." However, treatment is provided to control the symptoms and provide relief to the body.
In the case of a normal, mild case of dengue fever, here are the important things to do:
- Drink plenty of water and fluids. This is essential to prevent dehydration. Things like broth, porridge, soup, and fruit juice are very good.
- Get plenty of rest. You should avoid running around until you feel better.
- You can take a painkiller like Paracetamol for headaches and body aches. However, only take it in the dosage prescribed by a doctor.
Warning! Avoid taking painkillers containing aspirin or ibuprofen (e.g. Brufen, Panadeine) during dengue fever. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, it is safest to use only paracetamol.
Most of the time, dengue fever resolves without serious complications. However, if symptoms worsen within the first day or two after the fever subsides (e.g., severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, or bleeding), it could be a sign of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). If this happens, you should seek immediate medical attention .
In severe dengue cases (especially DHF), hospital treatment is as follows:
- Saline (IV fluids) and electrolytes are given intravenously to replace fluids and salts lost from vomiting and diarrhea.
- If this treatment is started early, the disease can often be controlled.
- Some people may also need a blood transfusion if necessary.
Another thing is to prevent a person with dengue from being bitten by mosquitoes again. Because if that happens, the mosquito can spread the disease to another person. Therefore, it is important to use a mosquito net and apply mosquito repellent in the area where the dengue patient is.
How to protect yourself from dengue fever? Prevention is the best!
There is also sometimes talk about a dengue vaccine. International organizations such as the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have made various recommendations in this regard. For example, in some countries, this vaccine is recommended for children aged 9-16 years who have previously had dengue in areas where dengue is common. However, this vaccine is not suitable for everyone, in all cases . Therefore, you should seek specific advice from your local doctor about a dengue vaccine. Whether there is a vaccine or not, avoiding mosquitoes is the main and best way to prevent dengue.
So, what should we do to avoid mosquitoes?
- Install mosquito screens on your windows and doors. If there are holes in the screens that you already have, repair them immediately. Keep doors and windows that do not have screens closed as much as possible.
- When children go outside, dress them in long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks that cover their bodies well. Use a mosquito net when sleeping at night.
- Apply insect repellent to children according to the directions. Choose one that contains DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus .
- In areas where dengue is reported, limit the time children spend outdoors during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon (when mosquitoes are most active) .
Along with this, it is also extremely important to eliminate places where mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. Therefore, around our homes:
- Coconut shells, tins, yogurt cups, plastic bottles
- Old tires
- Other containers that can collect water
Do not let water collect in things like that, and remove and clean them regularly. You should also change the water in flower pots, birdbaths, and dog bowls at least once a week . You should also regularly check the gutters on your roof to see if they are clogged with leaves and water.
Remember, dengue mosquitoes breed even in clean water! So, don't just sit there thinking, "Oh, we have clean water there."
So, after all this talk, what are the most important things we need to remember?
Dengue is not a disease to be trifled with, that's true. However, if we are properly informed and take the necessary steps, we can stay safe from it, and even if we do get the disease, we can recover quickly.
- Dengue is a potentially dangerous disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
- Be aware of symptoms such as fever, body aches, and rash. Be especially aware of the warning signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) (stomach pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea that occur after the fever subsides).
- As soon as you suspect dengue, see a doctor immediately.
- For normal dengue fever , get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and take only paracetamol. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen for any reason.
- The best way to prevent dengue is to protect yourself from mosquitoes and destroy mosquito breeding sites. This is not only your responsibility, but also a social responsibility. Help keep not only your home, but also the surrounding environment clean.
Keeping these points in mind, let us all join hands to fight dengue. Wishing you and your family good health!
` Dengue, Dengue Fever, Mosquitoes, Dengue Symptoms, Dengue Treatment, Dengue Prevention, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
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