As Kerala grapples with erratic rainfall, there’s an increasing worry about a surge in dengue cases. Stagnant water and humidity make a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, especially the Aedes aegypti species notorious for spreading dengue fever. Keeping a close eye on this, the Kerala government is taking extra precautions to gear up for this potential upsurge.
What Is Dengue Fever? What Causes This Viral Infection?
Dengue fever is an infection carried by mosquitoes, causing flu-like symptoms such as high fever, heavy headache, strenuous muscle and joint pain, tiredness, queasiness, and skin rashes. In more severe situations, this can turn into a life-threatening condition known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, leading to bleeding, plasma leakage, and even organ damage. As of now, we don’t have a specific treatment for dengue, so prevention is our best bet.
Kerala Health Experts Issue Preventive Guidelines
Talking about prevention, the Kerala government is leaving no stones unturned. It has stepped up several preventive actions to control the disease from spreading. These involve escalating mosquito control activities, conveying the importance of prevention to the public, and setting up adequate medical facilities for handling dengue cases. Importantly, they are also keeping strict vigilance over areas prone to water accumulation to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Understanding Dengue Fever’s Symptoms
Dengue fever exhibits itself with a sudden, intense fever, sometimes going up to a dangerous 104°F (40°C). Similar to the flu, the fever often comes bundled with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, and weariness. A noticeable rash may blemish the skin two to five days after the fever commences.
In some serious cases, dengue fever lead to more critical condition known as either Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). This severe form of dengue can cause constant vomiting, acute abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, gum bleeding, and exhaustion. Serious medical care is necessary for DHF and DSS as untreated, they can induce shock, organ disaster, and in drastic cases, death.