Dengue Fever - Causes and Symptoms

This is the time for monsoons in India. Stagnant water gives rise to more mosquitoes and thus more mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue virus.

Half a million patients are hospitalized every year with dengue virus globally. So, the awareness about the Dengue fever will be helpful for its prevention.

What is Dengue?

Dengue fever is mainly found in tropical and sub tropical areas in the world and it can be caused by any one of the four viruses that are spread by mosquitoes. It is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. When the infected mosquito bites, the virus enters into the person's blood stream.

Source: www.pixabay.com

Symptoms of Dengue :

The symptoms usually show up 4 to 5 days after getting an infection and it can last up to 10 days.
Initial symptoms include:

• sudden onset fever
• headache
• mouth and nose bleeding
• joint pains
• vomiting
• Skin rashes
• diarrhea
• Nausea etc.,

How can we prevent it?

It is better to be safe than sorry. Here are a few tips that might help.

• Keeping house clean without stagnant water by reducing mosquito habitat
• Wearing protective clothing
• Using mosquito repellent 

Dengue is not contagious but the infected mosquitoes can spread the disease quickly. 

Be safe in the monsoons :-)

Until next time,

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever/basics/causes/con-20032868
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dengue-fever-reference