As summer approaches, the excitement of going outdoors and wearing half-sleeve shirts and shorts is always there for everyone, as is the looming threat of mosquitoes, which can be very hard to spot with the naked eye

In conversation with Dr. Rakshya, we discuss the methods of prevention as well as the causes of the disease.

 

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide each year. While dengue is not usually fatal, it can cause severe symptoms such as high fever, headache, joint pain, and vomiting, and in some cases can lead to more serious complications. With no specific treatment or vaccine available for dengue, prevention is key to avoiding the disease. In this article, we'll share some tips and strategies for preventing dengue and reducing your risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

 

Bites from the tiny insects are matters that are not to be overlooked, especially with the ongoing spread of the disease. Dr. Rakshya describes the disease as one of the most frequent diseases in the summer season. It has already started this season, mentioning that she is seeing some cases in the OPD of the hospital right now. Most people are oblivious to the rapid urbanization in the valley, and a major reason is the rapid rise in temperature, which results in the formation of a suitable environment for mosquitoes to reproduce. She recommends that people be very attentive to mosquito bites, especially with Aedes mosquito types, commonly known as yellow fever mosquitoes, which are the main carriers of the diseases.

 

To avoid contracting the disease or treating it early on, there are several things one can do. The first step is to confirm if the mosquito that bit you is a carrier of the disease. To do this, you should wait a few days and observe if any symptoms of dengue appear, such as fever, body pain, nausea, or vomiting. If so, consult a doctor right away. The insects are most active during the night or in the evenings. Some steps for avoiding them are by using mosquito repellents and nets while sleeping, which tremendously reduces the risks of being bitten by a mosquito during the night. Hygiene plays a very important factor in the prevention of diseases as they are attracted to places with poor hygiene and the cleaning of any dirty water source nearby because that is how they multiply. 

 

The most common misconception of the disease is that it is contagious and can be spread, unlike COVID, it cannot spread through contact, but this is debunked as the disease is only spread through the bites of a select few carriers of the disease. It cannot spread through physical contact.