Dengue is a viral disease that can be fatal. About 50% of the entire human population is at its risk. In 2015 the cases of dengue reported had doubled in India. It has no particular cure. Hence, it’s better to prevent contracting the fever itself. The following measures and precautions can help you safeguard against this viral fever to a large extend.
- Beware of the Aedes mosquito:
Characterised by white dots on the body and legs, it’s the bite of the female Aedes mosquito that spreads the virus in our body. It is the most active during daylight. Early morning and late afternoon are the most risky times of getting bitten by it. Wear full sleeved tops and full length pants to reduce skin exposure.
- Use mosquito repellents:
Prevent mosquitoes entering the home, schools and offices by using wire gauze or net at the windows and doors. Apply anti mosquito creams when out and use mosquito repellent sprays, coils and machines in order to shoo away or kill the mosquitoes. The idea is to avoid mosquitoes from biting you.
- Avoid dark clothes:
It’s preferable to wear clothes of lighter hue in order to make yourself less appealing for these flying menaces.
- Pregnant woman to be extra cautious:
Dr. Sudhir Chalasani, General Medicine, practising at Chandanagar Apollo Clinic opines, “Mosquitoes are very attracted to carbon dioxide. That is why if you are pregnant, the chances of getting bitten by a mosquito is more because you tend to release more carbon dioxide.” Moreover, your body temperature too being a bit raised makes you even more bite-friendly.
- Avoid crowded places:
The more the people, the more the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and higher the chances of instigating the odour senses of mosquitoes.
- Avoid water stagnation:
Mosquitoes need wet, moist, cool, damp and dark places like water puddles and pits to breed or to lay their eggs. Eliminating the conditions that help them to multiply is a major way of reducing the risk of dengue and other vector or mosquito borne diseases. Keep your lawns well trimmed. Don’t allow rain water to collect and stagnate in balconies, in the garden and courtyard, on the roads or lanes near your place, etc. Make water puddles in and around your area non-mosquito friendly by covering them with sand or dousing them with petrol/ kerosene or insecticides. Also, ensure the drains are covered and not over flowing.
These steps will not only safeguard you against dengue but also help in protecting the community at large. Apart from the aforesaid measures, boost your immunity to help you build better resistance against diseases. To know more about the ways of prevention and what symptoms to be aware of you can always consult the medical experts at Apollo Clinic. Click here now to know the nearest clinic to your place: https://www.apolloclinic.com/clinic-locator