High Dengue Fever Cases in the Midst of the Corona Covid-19 Pandemic, Recognize Symptoms and Prevention Methods

Kapanlagi.com - In the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the government is once again faced with another health problem, where the rainy season has not ended, causing the dengue fever or DBD outbreak to become more alarming. Basically, dengue fever itself is a disease that originates from the bites of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Quoted from halodoc, dengue fever itself can be triggered by several factors such as having previously experienced dengue virus infection, living or traveling to tropical areas, and infants, children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are prone to dengue fever. 

Although the community is currently fighting the coronavirus covid-19 to break the chain of transmission, do not neglect to remain vigilant against dengue fever. The symptoms and prevention methods that you need to know are as follows.

1. Causes of Dengue Fever

Causes of dengue fever (credit: freepik)

The cause of dengue fever is derived from the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The virus enters the human bloodstream through mosquito bites. Usually, dengue mosquitoes bite in the morning until late afternoon.

Aedes aegypti is generally smaller in size, with a dark black body and two white vertical lines on its back and horizontal white lines on its legs. These mosquitoes usually prefer dark and cool places, so they are more commonly found indoors rather than outdoors in hot areas.

Transmission of dengue mosquitoes occurs when an infected person is bitten by a vector mosquito. The virus from the infected person is carried by the mosquito and infects other people who are bitten by the mosquito. Therefore, the transmission of dengue fever is considered very fast if preventive measures are not taken. Additionally, this dengue virus can only be transmitted through mosquitoes and not from person to person.

2. Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms of dengue fever (credit: freepik)

The incubation period of dengue fever ranges from four to seven days. The incubation period itself is the time interval from when the virus first enters the body until symptoms appear. Usually, symptoms of dengue fever will be visible 3 to 14 days after the incubation period. The symptoms of dengue fever are:

-Fever up to 40 degrees

-Body chills

-Severe headache

-Loss of appetite

-Appearance of red spots

-Nausea and vomiting

-Pain in joints, muscles, and bones

-Pain in the back of the eye

-Fatigue

3. Prevention Methods

Preventing dengue fever (credit: freepik)

-The first prevention method is to regularly drain the bathtub once a week. For those of you who rarely clean stagnant water, it will trigger the emergence of dengue mosquito. You need to know that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed with a cycle that lasts for 8-10 days in room temperature. By draining the bathtub once a week, you can do the main prevention.

-Secondly, use a mosquito net when sleeping to protect yourself from dengue mosquito bites.

-Thirdly, avoid stacking or hanging clothes for too long. Because, it will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

-The fourth is to always use mosquito repellent lotion that aims to protect yourself from dengue mosquito bites. You can use lotion that contains lemongrass, lavender, geranium, lemon, or peppermint extract.

-Fifth, by conducting fogging for mass prevention of dengue fever. In addition, you can do fogging with spray mosquito repellent or mosquito repellent coils.

-Sixth, trim and clean wild plants in the yard. you must take care of plants diligently to prevent them from becoming mosquito breeding grounds. Especially during the rainy season, there will be many puddles hiding among other plantations.

-Seventh, by wearing covered clothing when going out of the house. This is one of the prevention measures for dengue fever.

Those are some things you need to know to recognize the symptoms and prevention methods of mosquito-borne dengue fever. Always practice a clean and healthy lifestyle. Hopefully, it is beneficial.

(kpl/dtm)