It is rainy season once again and along with the downpour comes the proliferation of mosquitos and the deadly diseases they bring. Among these vector-borne diseases that plague us during monsoon season is Dengue Fever.
Dengue fever is caused by the Aedes aegypti or albopictus mosquitos. A bite from these mosquitos spread the virus creating mild to severe symptoms in people affected. The most common symptom is high-grade fever; however, it also includes the following:
- Headache
- Muscle, bone, or joint pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
- Swollen glands
- Rash
For severe, life-threatening cases the symptoms 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
Recently a vaccine called Dengvaxia has been approved and made available for people ages 9 to 45 years old who have already had dengue at least once. The vaccine is given in 3 doses over 12 months. Other prevention methods are as follows:
Use insect repellent
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents external icon with one of the active ingredients below.
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Treat items, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with 0.5% permethrin or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home
- Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
