National Dengue Day 2024: Get Aware of Prevention & Treatment of Dengue

During the British rule, Malaria was one of the biggest killers in India in the 19th century caused by mosquitos. Now that Malaria has been controlled efficiently, this tiny bug has managed to gift mankind another viral vector-borne disease which has become a known endemic across the world. Yes, we’re talking about Dengue. 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has recommended observing the 16th of May every year as National Dengue Day to increase public awareness about the spread, prevention and treatment of the disease. The National Dengue Day Theme this year is “ Dengue Prevention: Our Responsibility for a Safer Tomorrow”. But to observe this as a community, you first need to understand how and why this disease instils fear in the minds of commoners and how to be best prepared for it with the support of an apt health cover. 

What is Dengue?

Dengue (Den-gee) is a vector-borne viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes of Aedes Species(Aedes Aegypti). It is a severe flu-like illness which usually develops after 5-6 days of being bitten by a mosquito. It is fast emerging as an outbreak-prone illness and has been reported from all over the country except Ladakh. In 2023, approximately ninety-four thousand cases were reported and ninety-one deaths were reported of dengue fever.

How is it Transmitted?  

The female mosquito is usually infected when it feeds on the blood of an infected person during the acute febrile (viremia) phase of the illness, which is when the person’s blood is swarming with the virus. The mosquito, in turn, is infected after 8 to 10 days of incubation period. This virus is then transmitted once the infected mosquito bites and injects its saliva into another healthy person. There is again an intrinsic incubation period of 4 to 7 days, after which the symptoms become prominent. This is how dengue cycle days continue to get transmitted from one person to another. 

Symptoms and Signs of Dengue Fever

When symptoms occur, they last for 2 to 7 days. Some distinct symptoms during dengue fever days are: 

• The onset of a very high fever can abruptly reach up to 104 F.
• Severe headache with pain behind the eyes and difficulty in eye movement.
• Muscle and joint pains in the entire body, the reason why it is also called ‘break-bone fever’.
• Nausea and vomiting happen along with fever, and hence, there is also loss of appetite. 
• Soreness and measles-like rash appear all over the chest and upper arms. 

Some severe symptoms that can appear when someone is infected a second time or has low immunity, or even when the fever is gone: 

• Frequent vomiting with or without blood and sometimes blood can also be seen in stool.
• Bleeding  from nose and mouth along with body rashes.
• The patient feels extreme fatigue and restlessness.
• The patient feels extremely dry and thirsty.
• Breathing becomes strenuous, and pulse is rapid and weak. 

The maximum number of days dengue can last is a week or two. In case of severe symptoms, hospitalisation is the only way out. Severe dengue fever is also called dengue hemorrhagic fever due to blood loss happening from the nose and mouth. 

Critical Phase of Dengue 

The days post febrile stage (infected) stage,  that is 3 to 7 days after the onset of the illness, a person enters the critical phase. The critical days of dengue are characterised by: 

• An abrupt fall in body temperature beyond 98.4 degrees Celsius is confusing to the patient as well as the healthcare provider.
• Blood pressure drops at a dangerously low level, leading to shock.
• Internal bleeding may happen from gums, nose and even internal organs.
• Further complications may occur due to acute failure of the liver and other organs. 
• An inflamed pancreas can also complicate the condition more.
• In some rare cases of severe infection, it may lead to meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord.

Warning signs indicating a critical phase are severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, blood in vomit, bleeding gums, respiratory distress and severe fatigue. Dengue fever day by day advances  and is notoriously fatal, especially in the critical stage. You must seek medical attention without delay, and having insurance coverage for hospitalisation helps immensely as the patient can only be treated in the ICU. The complications escalate quite fast, and even the medications do not help if not taken care of at the initial stage. To keep yourself ready for such emergencies, invest in health insurance, which is comprehensive and covers all kinds of emergencies.

Recovery Phase of Dengue 

This is a relief phase for the infected person and his/her family. During recovery days of dengue, the fever subsides and the body again starts reabsorption of fluid. However, fluid management is essential, excess fluid intake can lead to fluid overload and organ failure. Therefore it is best to keep the patient under the doctor's observation, in a hospital. 

What are the 7 Warning Signs of Dengue?

The critical and major signs of severe dengue are: 

• Abrupt and very high consistent fever reaching up to 104 degrees fareinhite
• Severe headache including eye and forehead
• Muscle and joint aches throughout the body
• A feeling of nausea causing loss of appetite and persistent vomiting with or without blood, along with severe abdominal pain
• Red rashes all over the chest and upper part of the body with purple spots
• Extreme fatigue and dryness of the mouth
• Easy bruising and bleeding from the nose, gum and mouth is also a sign that it needs to be treated immediately before it turns fatal

Dengue Fever Diagnosis and Treatment 

Dengue fever can be diagnosed by blood test only.

Dengue fever treatment days involve the management of symptoms as there is no specific medicine or cure for this virus. At home, if the case has not turned severe, doctors will prescribe treating pain with acetaminophen, intake of plenty of water and fluids, and to be at complete rest. 

Paracetamol tablets can also be taken for fever or headache. You also need to be careful about your food intake. Raw foods like salads are to be avoided, and energy-giving, easily digestible foods like poha, idly, and dalia should be included in the diet.  

For severe cases, hospitalisation is crucial as treatments like oxygen therapy, blood and platelets transfusion, intravenous fluids for rehydration and constant monitoring of blood pressure need to be done under a doctor's observant eyes. Here, a comprehensive health coverage as offered by Care Health Insurance will give you major financial relief during your hospital stay as inpatient hospitalisation and ICU charges will be covered and treatment will not be delayed.

How to Prevent Dengue?

Prevention of dengue outbreaks can be done majorly by vector control. Some of the top prevention ideas centre around mosquito breeding control.

• Elimination of Mosquito Breeding Site: Stagnant water breeds mosquitoes. Check and clear your surroundings from unwanted, stored water in empty flower pots, discarded containers, tyres and gutters. 
• Regular Screenings of the House and Surroundings: This activity prevents any further growth of such breeding sites and can be done individually, by your building associations or by your community regularly.
• Use Mosquito Nets and Patches: Wear protective clothing whenever possible with mosquito patches and creams. Use mosquito nets regularly, be it day and night if you reside in areas with open drains and garbage dumps. 
• Avoid Peak Mosquito Activity Time: Dengue-causing mosquitoes are usually active in the early morning and late afternoon. Try to avoid going out during these times or take full precautions if you have to step out.  
• Fending off Mosquitoes: Grow plants like peppermint, eucalyptus and lemongrass to ward off mosquitoes. 

To Sum Up

Naming a day after a disease might seem over the top, but if we consider the fact that there is no cure for this and prevention centres around vector control, the significance of National Dengue Day seems quite relevant. This year, the focus is on the prevention of dengue, which is not a mere individual activity but more of a community responsibility. However, it is prudent to be prepared for such emergencies arising out of severe cases of dengue by investing in a health insurance plan that will take care of immediate hospitalisation and cashless treatments in the ICU, as time is of the essence when a patient reaches the critical phase of dengue. Since safety is the motto of National Dengue Day this year, you must act today for a safe tomorrow.  

>> Also Read: Health Insurance with Dengue Treatment Cover

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.