The dengue menace is back in town and has been a topic of discussion and debate among the doctors and citizens of the City. City doctors suggest that patients with even early symptoms should get medical help instead of ignoring it.
"Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rashes are very common.
The onset of the disease is followed by fever, rash, and headache," says Dr Chowdhry, a general physician.
Despite the best efforts of the City administration, many residents do not clear stagnant water and clogged drains, which are a hotbed of breeding mosquitoes.
He further adds that on an average, he has been seeing at least five to seven patients who have dengue fever in a day. While most of these patients are children, many adults have also contracted the disease and come to the doctor once it has reached an advanced state.
"As the disease is caused by a virus, there are no medicines which can be prescribed for it. The only way to provide relief to the patient is by reducing their symptoms. The acute phase lasts for a week or two. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is typically found among children below ten years of age. If a child is suffering from abdominal pain, haemorrhage and circulatory collapse or shock, the child should be immediately taken to the doctor," he adds.
The only way to eradicate this disease is to control the mosquitoes which carry this virus.
"Monsoons carry many diseases and we take special care at home to keep dengue, malaria and viral fever at bay. We try not to let water-logging take place in our area and get our drains and borewell cleaned up, so that the water does not get contaminated," says Chumki, a homemaker.
Dengue can effect anyone but people with a low immunity level are more prone to the disease.
"The best way to keep diseases like dengue at bay is to have a diet which is rich in iron and vitamin C.
Fruits like guava and pomegranate are good in increasing immunity," says Bhavana K, a dietician.
Doctors advise getting a checkup as soon as the initial symptoms of the disease crop up.
"Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rashes are very common.
The onset of the disease is followed by fever, rash, and headache," says Dr Chowdhry, a general physician.
Despite the best efforts of the City administration, many residents do not clear stagnant water and clogged drains, which are a hotbed of breeding mosquitoes.
He further adds that on an average, he has been seeing at least five to seven patients who have dengue fever in a day. While most of these patients are children, many adults have also contracted the disease and come to the doctor once it has reached an advanced state.
"As the disease is caused by a virus, there are no medicines which can be prescribed for it. The only way to provide relief to the patient is by reducing their symptoms. The acute phase lasts for a week or two. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is typically found among children below ten years of age. If a child is suffering from abdominal pain, haemorrhage and circulatory collapse or shock, the child should be immediately taken to the doctor," he adds.
The only way to eradicate this disease is to control the mosquitoes which carry this virus.
"Monsoons carry many diseases and we take special care at home to keep dengue, malaria and viral fever at bay. We try not to let water-logging take place in our area and get our drains and borewell cleaned up, so that the water does not get contaminated," says Chumki, a homemaker.
Dengue can effect anyone but people with a low immunity level are more prone to the disease.
"The best way to keep diseases like dengue at bay is to have a diet which is rich in iron and vitamin C.
Fruits like guava and pomegranate are good in increasing immunity," says Bhavana K, a dietician.
Doctors advise getting a checkup as soon as the initial symptoms of the disease crop up.