Dr Sandeep Puri from Ludhiana writes- Prevention of dengue the only safeguard

There is sudden increase in the number of dengue cases in the Ludhiana city and elsewhere in the district, there being no specific treatment for this viral fever, prevention remained the only effective safeguard against the mosquito-borne disease.
Dengue fever is a disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses including DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. It is found mostly during and shortly after the rainy season. It is estimated that worldwide, 50 to 100 million cases of dengue infection occur each year and many more cases likely go unreported because some healthcare providers do not recognize the disease properly.The virus that causes dengue fever is carried by female mosquitoes "Aides Aegypti", it normally feeds during the daytime, and is transmit their virus to humans through their bite. It is more likely to occur during or after the rainy season.
The main symptoms of dengue fever are :
Ø  High grade fever.
Ø  Severe Muscle Pains & Joint pains,
Ø  Rashes.
Ø  Headaches.
Ø  Abdominal Pain
The fever mainly destroys the platelets of the blood that help in blood clotting and lead to bleeding in many parts of the body in severe cases. Though there is no specific treatment for typical dengue fever, and most people recover within 2 weeks. For dengue symptoms, including shock and coma, early and aggressive emergency treatment with fluid and electrolyte replacement can be lifesaving. To help with recovery, healthcare experts recommend getting plenty of bed rest, drinking lots of fluids and taking prescribed medicine to reduce fever.
The warning signs of dengue in which a patient should immediately report to hospital includes:-
Ø  Bleeding from any site
Ø  Extreme Lethargy or Restlessness
Ø  Cold Exteremties
Ø  Decreased Urine Output
Ø  Acute Severe Abdominal Pain
Ø  Persistent Vomiting
Prevention & Control:
-Get rid of areas where mosquitoes breed, such as standing water in flower pots, containers, coolers and discarded tyres, etc. If these water collections are taken care of at least once a week on the same day, it will help destroy the maturation process of mosquito.
-Keep unscreened windows and doors closed.
-Wear full sleeves and pants / salwars will help avoiding mosquito bites.
-Use mosquito repellents, net
-Active monitoring and surveillance of vectors
-Even if you have cleared the containers containing stagnant water, but still you should keep a regular check that it is not again filled.
(The author is Medical Superintendent and Professor and Head of Medicine at DMCH, Ludhiana.)