GOQii

Blog

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

September 9, 2017 By Dr Ashwin Nanda 17 Comments

Know all about Dengue and Chikungunya and how to prevent it

Dengue and Chikungunya

Chikungunya and Dengue have created havoc in the capital city of Delhi and certain other parts of the country. The death toll from the two vector-borne diseases has been climbing every day even as the number of affected people crossed 2,800. It has been reported that according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the number of chikungunya cases in Delhi had spiked to over 2000 till September 11 as fever clinics in the city continue to be swamped with patients.

The World Health Organisation has said that in recent years, globalisation of travel and trade, unplanned urbanisation and environmental challenges including climate change has had a “significant” impact on transmission of vector-borne diseases.

However, the key to averting such an adverse outcome is timely diagnosis and appropriate monitoring along with supportive care.

Let me begin with the basics about dengue and chikungunya…….the culprit for both is the Aedes aegypti mosquito and hence a person can be infected with both diseases simultaneously by its bite. Viruses are the cause of both problems, which enter the mosquito when it bites a human suffering from dengue or chikungunya.

The most likely time for this mosquito to bite is 2 hrs after sunrise and 2 hrs before sunset but, probability of a bite occurring is anytime during daylight hours. So it’s active during the time when most of us are also likely to be outdoors.

Chikungunya begins with sudden onset of high fever, ranging from 101 to 105 degree Fahrenheit accompanied by severe pain in joints. Other symptoms like chills, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite and conjunctivitis can also be seen. Rash occurs typically on day 2 or 3 when the fever has subsided along with itching.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) may show reduction in the total White cell count and platelet count, though neither are severe nor life threatening. IgM (Immunoglobulin M) antibody against Chikungunya can be detected in blood after 5 days till months after onset of symptoms. Joint pains and stiffness can last for weeks or months and can be distressing.

Treatment involves paracetamol to control fever, although NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs like Brufen and diclofenac) may be needed to reduce fever and joint pains as paracetamol may not suffice. Ice compress on the joints can reduce pain. Ensuring water intake of at least 3 liters/day for adults is a must to counter the dehydration resulting from high fever. Antihistamines reduce the rash and itching. Extreme joint pains get relieved by oral steroids.

Dengue is equally dangerous and spreading. According to New Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s research finds that the Dengue virus is the most rapidly spreading virus transmitted by mosquitoes and is a major source of illness in the tropics and subtropics, infecting as many as 400 million people annually.

Dengue symptoms are no different from Chikungunya. Both have similar onset with high grade fever (102 to 105 degree fahrenheit), headaches especially behind the eyes, back pain, muscle & joint pains, weakness. Rash can also occur. Cold and cough, vomiting and diarrhoea may accompany other symptoms. The diagnosis can be done through blood tests like Dengue NS1 which comes positive during first 3 days of fever & Dengue IgM which is detected from 5th to 7th day from onset of fever.

Treatment of uncomplicated dengue is same as chikungunya. Hospitalization is a must in worsened abdominal pain & vomiting, significant fall in blood pressure, breathlessness and platelet count going lower than 30,000. Platelet transfusions may be needed along with fluid infusion.

There are no antiviral medicines yet for dengue and chikungunya. Prevention of mosquito bites is the easiest way of avoiding these diseases, wearing full length shirts & trousers helps, applying mosquito repellent & using mosquito nets goes a long way in avoiding bites.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in stagnant fresh water which is avoidable by disposing used plastic bottles & discarded tyres properly. Pooling in plant trays and coolers also needs to be prevented. Also one should cover water containers that can be mosquito breeding grounds.

About Dr Ashwin Nanda

With 10 years of experience behind him as a general practitioner, Dr. Ashwin Nanda has over the years moved away from just prescribing medication to his patients to getting them to adopt a healthier lifestyle by focusing on nutrition and wellness. According to him this line of treatment has realized better results and satisfaction among his patients diagnosed with lifestyle diseases. Lifestyle to him means leading a quality life to be it at work or at home with family and friends. Personally, too he leads a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating mindfully and meditating.

❮❮ Previous Post
Next Post ❯ ❯

Comments

  1. VINAYAK INGALE says

    September 21, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Thanks for this fruitful information

    Reply
  2. Afzal says

    July 1, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    Hi Dr. Ashwin,
    You rightly pointed out the seriousness associated with Chikungunya and to weigh your statistics, you equally presented the facts. Something, which we can expect from a 10 years experienced doctor like you. Kudos to you.

    Reply
  3. tanseer says

    September 10, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    God Bless U all for the information?

    Reply
  4. arjun patil says

    October 24, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    Thank you for the above infomation. As we know the Female mosquitoes need the protein in blood to develop their eggs. During the monsoon, pools of water provide a perfect breeding place but even vases, planters and small amounts of water are fine for breeding. Female mosquitoes that are infected with the Chikungunya virus, that is all too prevalent in India, bite humans, drink their blood and thus infect them with the virus, causing the Chikungunya fever and diseases.

    Reply
  5. Rishika says

    December 27, 2017 at 6:38 pm

    Excellent information! Prevention is anytime better than cure. however, if your house is infested with mosquitoes then you must reach out to a professional mosquito control service in order to get rid of mosquitoes for a longer term.

    Reply
  6. Rishika says

    January 17, 2018 at 5:31 pm

    Nobody is immune to the Dengue virus.Therefore, we all should ensure that we show our responsibility towards this issue by maintaining proper hygiene in our surroundings.

    Reply
  7. beta key says

    March 7, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Millions of people around the world are hooked onto games these days.

    Once you are informed about the terms in the game,
    you’re set to experience the overall game towards the fullest.
    It takes time and energy to increase camaraderie such as this, however,
    you can speed the process up a bit by making sure all of us have entry to lots of team building events activities.

    Reply
  8. Izzy says

    June 30, 2018 at 10:52 am

    Hi. I’d like to help you out with information. I suffered from both Chikungunya and dengue together.
    SYMPTOMS: Between the day i was infected to my actual fever symptoms my body was shivering to a great extend for a day. After a week actual symptoms started the rise and fall in my body temperature, pain behind eyes, low BP, pain in joints, pain in back and the rest is the usual symptoms. The pain in body especially joints and back was EXTREME in the morning and when the evening comes my BP would start dropping.
    CURE.: SIMPLE WATER DOESN’T HELP! INSTEAD …. Take WHO ORS MIXED WITH WATER(3-5 litres for adults), Homemade JUICE with salt, PAPAYA leaf Juice, Giloy Juice, KIWI FRUIT WITH SALT. KIWI IS VERY EFFECTIVE SINCE IT HAS A LOT MORE WATER CONTENT. …..
    P.S.
    THANKYOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION I RECOGNIZED THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE BECAUSE OF YOUR INFORMATION.

    Reply
  9. Amar Sheba says

    September 21, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    Very useful blog,We are one of the best Extermination Company in Bangladesh. Services like Cockroach Control, Termite Control, Rat Control, Bedbugs Control, Ant, Mosquito, and other pest control services are provided by Experienced Pest Control Expert!

    Reply
  10. Moving Company says

    March 6, 2021 at 2:21 pm

    Thanks for sharing the amazing useful post. keep it up

    Reply
  11. Md. Kowsar Alom says

    November 21, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    Very helpful share for the reader. you provide a lot of effective information.

    Reply
  12. sravani says

    December 7, 2021 at 3:33 pm

    It is very useful.Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. nikitha says

    December 7, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    Excellent information.Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. bindu says

    December 7, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    very useful blog.

    Reply
  15. mallika says

    December 7, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Amazing blog.

    Reply
  16. mallikapch says

    December 14, 2021 at 11:08 am

    Thanks for sharing amazing post..

    Reply
  17. pest control says

    January 4, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    God bless you✝

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Recent Posts

  • Are Cruciferous Vegetables Bad For Thyroid?
  • 7 Tips To Help You Drink Water The Right Way
  • How to Burn Fat With Exercise
  • Kanji: The Miracle Drink to Level Up Your Winter!
  • 5 Common Weightlifting Myths You Should Stop Believing

Stay Updated

Archives

  • January 2023 (27)
  • December 2022 (31)
  • November 2022 (30)
  • October 2022 (31)
  • September 2022 (30)
  • August 2022 (31)
  • July 2022 (31)
  • June 2022 (30)
  • May 2022 (31)
  • April 2022 (30)
  • March 2022 (31)
  • February 2022 (25)
  • January 2022 (26)
  • December 2021 (20)
  • November 2021 (19)
  • October 2021 (17)
  • September 2021 (14)
  • August 2021 (16)
  • July 2021 (18)
  • June 2021 (20)
  • May 2021 (17)
  • April 2021 (18)
  • March 2021 (18)
  • February 2021 (11)
  • January 2021 (10)
  • December 2020 (9)
  • November 2020 (5)
  • October 2020 (12)
  • September 2020 (10)
  • August 2020 (7)
  • July 2020 (4)
  • June 2020 (8)
  • May 2020 (12)
  • April 2020 (14)
  • March 2020 (14)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (7)
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (10)
  • October 2019 (10)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (11)
  • July 2019 (13)
  • June 2019 (13)
  • May 2019 (12)
  • April 2019 (14)
  • March 2019 (14)
  • February 2019 (14)
  • January 2019 (20)
  • December 2018 (13)
  • November 2018 (9)
  • October 2018 (11)
  • September 2018 (11)
  • August 2018 (23)
  • July 2018 (13)
  • June 2018 (22)
  • May 2018 (16)
  • April 2018 (23)
  • March 2018 (17)
  • February 2018 (13)
  • January 2018 (18)
  • December 2017 (13)
  • November 2017 (25)
  • October 2017 (21)
  • September 2017 (20)
  • August 2017 (7)
  • July 2017 (11)
  • June 2017 (12)
  • May 2017 (14)
  • April 2017 (9)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (11)
  • December 2016 (10)
  • November 2016 (8)
  • October 2016 (9)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (12)
  • July 2016 (11)
  • June 2016 (10)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (17)
  • March 2016 (18)
  • February 2016 (8)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • November 2015 (9)
  • October 2015 (8)
  • September 2015 (10)
  • August 2015 (13)
  • July 2015 (10)
  • June 2015 (12)
  • May 2015 (9)
  • April 2015 (13)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (6)
  • January 2015 (12)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (11)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (14)
  • August 2014 (14)
  • July 2014 (7)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (5)
GOQii Trail Challenge Kamal Chandran

Triumphing Over My Mind, Body & Soul At The GOQii Trail Challenge | Kamal Chandran

Imagine an event where each and every person has a unique tale to tell, despite having taken similar paths or adventures. Have you ever gone through it? We’re about to share the experience of Kamal Chandran, Group Head - HR at GOQii, who participated in the … [Read More...]

Rishikesh Ayre

The Right Guidance With Gradual Change – Rishikesh Ayre User Journey

Do you want to make a positive lifestyle change but don’t know how? Does it take every ounce of motivation for you to move? Do you need a nudge in the right direction? These are all valid questions and you’re not alone. Sometimes, we want to begin something new but don’t know where to start. […]

Alpesh Patel

How Alpesh Patel Lost 20kg in 9 months | GOQii Health Stories

Habits often determine whether you will or won’t lead a healthy life. Our Player Alpesh Patel realised this when his sedentary lifestyle led to various health issues. He knew it was time to make a positive change. Here’s how he took the decision to write his own #HealthStory by making a positive change in his […]

Hema Sangani - Reducing medication

The Art Of Reducing Medication & Getting Healthy With GOQii

If you speak to anyone who has lost weight the right way and maintains their health, you’ll begin to understand that it is an art that requires patience, dedication and consistency. Without these, your health will spiral downwards. Our Player Hema Sangani realised this as she took the decision to get healthy with GOQii. Here’s […]

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Copyright ©2016 GOQii