No symptoms even after 3 days! Dengue makes different appearance this time! Here is how to identify ...

No symptoms even after 3 days! Dengue makes different appearance this time! Here is how to identify ...

A rumour is circulating around that Dengue characteristics have taken a different look compared to last year. Ideas expressed by Consultant Specialist of Physical diseases at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and Senior Lecturer of the Medical Faculty, Dr. Udaya Ralapanawa  could be seen from this article.

Sometime back it was people of the urban class only who were afflicted with Dengue. From among them it was inhabitants living in main towns such as Colombo, Kandy and Anuradhapura. However, Dengue has

begun to spread on a provincial level. The main reason for this situation to happen is human activity, it is clear.

The 'fatal Dengue malady' initially rears its head as a virus fever. Disgust for food associated with pain in the body, headache coupled with fever has to some extent aggravated, it has been detected. Pain in the bones and muscles together with pain in the throat are symptoms observed in Dengue patients of late. Though inflammation of glands and diarrhoa were previously not detected among Dengue patients, such symptoms are noted among patients from the very first days the patient begins to suffer from fever. These could be identified as the latest symptoms occuring in a Dengue patient.

Apart from this, there is yet another leading reason that must be taken into account. Upto now we have got accustomed to getting the patient's platelet checked on the third day after fever sets in. But this time a situation the platelet count of the patient it is seen does not seem to drop in the first stages. Though values of the platelet count do not appear to drop until three or four days elapses, as it nears the seventh day the platelet count appears to drop at a rapid rate. This is a moment when the patient literally invites a risky condition known as Dengue Haemmorhage. As such, patients are cautioned not to be satisfied and keep quiet simply after checking the platelet count after three days as usual.

The best procedure to identify Dengue now is to get Dengue Antigen checked. This blood test could be carried out on the very first day of getting fever. As such, if it is found that the person is afflicted with Dengue, the patient could be warded to secure data related to complications occuring in the patient's body every hour there onwards and thus directed for treatment. Across this procedure it provides the opportunity to give proper treatment to the patient as well as provide rest too which are essential.

A dengue patient is brought under the direct supervision of a doctor and a nurse providing satisfactory medical treatment in order to specifically observe whether proper food and drink and liquids are taken by the patient and whether those are released from the body as waste matter on an equal measure, which then is an important factor. If a person is observed as displaying preliminary Dengue complications, treatment should be initiated and check whether the condition of the patient is properly brought under control. The fatal state of Dengue or a serious situation in that connection could be then averted.

A liquid diet comprising soup, broth, barley and Jeewani should be added as the patient's diet while no food or drink with a red hue must be taken by the patient. Also, no carbonated beverages (with gas) should be taken. Pregnant females or persons who are risk-prone in suffering from long-term non-infectious diseases such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure or Nervous diseases should seek immediate medical treatment and get warded in instances when found to be suffering from fever.

This time too all individuals such as the young, the youth and the elderly groups have become a prey to Dengue; but among them it is apparent that adult females specially have become prey to Dengue. Prevention in breeding of the Dengue mosquito larva is accepted as the best method of minimising the spread of Dengue; but it is noted that no dedicated effort is extended in this respect, nowadays. Lead-wrappings used to retain medical tablets too could be a place where Dengue mosquito-eggs could be stored. When circumstances are such, can one rest assure that no Dengue eggs could be found at locations where large constructions are carried out, dumping grounds of damaged articles and trees and plants where water collect?

As an egg could remain in a live state for a considerable period of time, cleaning activities should be attended to at least once every five days. Since the mosquito flies a distance of 500 metres, it is not sufficient that one should be satisfied by cleaning surrounding areas of his or her house only. Mutual congeniality should be developed and promoted and thereby encourage premises of other people to be kept clean too which incidentally brings rewards of good health and safety of life too.

Note prepared in relation to ideas expressed by Specialist Consultant Dr. Udaya Ralapanawa, Senior Lecturer of the Medical Faculty and Physiologist of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital -- Ruchira Jayadewa