Birthday of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji

Health
Dengue
Symptoms, Precautions, Cure
DR. SHUBHRA SHUKTIKA SHARMA
V arious types of water and airborne
diseases are spreading these
days which are common during the
month of September- October every
year. These diseases include allergic
cold, viral fever, malaria, chikungunya,
eye infection and dengue.
However, the spread of dengue this
time across the country has been
deadly and has taken a toll of more
than hundred lives and thousands are
suffering from this disease. In this article
we sum up how dengue is caused,
its symptoms, precautions and its treatment.
Dengue causes severe body ache
and one feels that his or her bones are
breaking, therefore, it is also called
breakbone fever.
Dengue fever is caused by a family
of virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes.
No specific medicine or antibiotics
have been discovered so far to
treat it.
The symptoms of dengue include,
High grade fever; Severe joint pain and
muscular pain; Swollen lymph nodes;
Bleeding gums; Severe pain behind the
eyes; Red palms and soles
Dengue can affect anyone but people
with compromised immune system
are easily afflicted to it. In severe conditions,
dengue may lead to Dengue
Hemorrhagic fever, a life threatening
condition resulting in bleeding, low
blood platelet count, blood plasma
leakage or the more fatal form which
causes dangerously low blood pressure.
Petechiae (small red or purple
splotches or blisters under the skin),
bleeding in the nose or gums, black
stools or easy bruising are all possible
signs of hemorrhage. This may also
lead to a serious condition called
"Dengue Shock Syndrome". Dengue
Shock Syndrome is a condition in
which the patient suffering from
dengue could develop shock with re-
42 Punjab Advance October 2015