#Dengue mosquitoes can also bite in the night if the lights are on

New Delhi, September 1 2015: With the incidence of dengue being at its all-time high in the Capital, the best way to reduce chances of acquiring the illness is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, like artificial containers that hold water in and around the home. Outdoors, one must regularly clean water containers like pet and animal water containers, flower planter dishes and keep water storage barrels covered.

Other precautionary measures include keeping a lookout for standing water indoors such as in vases with fresh flowers and clean them at least once a week. One must remember that the adult mosquitoes like to bite inside as well as around homes, during the day and at night when the lights are on. To protect oneself, it is important to use mosquito repellents while indoors or out. When possible, people must wear long sleeve shirts and long pants for additional protection.   Also, they must make sure that the window and door screens are secure and without holes. Sitting in air-conditioned rooms can reduce the incidence of the disease.

For people in whose houses someone is ill with dengue, extra precautions must be taken to prevent mosquitoes from biting the patient and then going on to bite others in the household.  The dengue patients must sleep under a mosquito bed net to avoid spreading the illness. All hospitals must also provide mosquito nets to patients suffering from dengue.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr. KK Aggarwal, President HCFI & Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “What most people do not realize is that the dengue mosquito breeds in fresh clean water as opposed to dirty drains. Thus, people living in clean urban surroundings are more at risk of acquiring the disease. Prevention is always better than cure. In case of being diagnosed with dengue, people must not panic, consume ample amounts of fluids since the dangers of dengue lie in dehydration and must only get a platelet transfusion if their platelet counts are below 10,000 and there is active bleeding. Unnecessary transfusion can cause more harm than good.”

Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. The symptoms include severe joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, exhaustion, and rashes. Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue fever, the treatment is directed toward relief of the symptoms. The acute phase of the illness with fever and myalgias lasts about one to two weeks.

Tips to prevent mosquito bites

Using the right insect repellent and other preventive actions can discourage mosquitoes. Here are some places where mosquito breeding must be eliminated:

 Remove Mosquito Habitats

• Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
• Empty and change the water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.
• Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.
• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulated.

Use Structural Barriers

• Cover all gaps in walls, doors, and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
• Make sure window and door screens are in good working order.
• Completely cover baby carriers and beds with netting.

Avoid Getting Bitten

• Keep mosquitoes away from exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.
• Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where mosquitoes can get to your skin.
• Stay indoors at sunrise, sunset, and early in the evening when mosquitoes are most active.

 – Ends –

About IMA: Indian Medical Association is the only representative, national voluntary organization of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large. It has its Headquarter in Delhi and State / Terr. Branches in 29 States and Union Territories. It has over 2, 53,000 doctors as its members through more than 1650 active local branches spread across the country.

About Heart Care Foundation of India

Initiated in 1986, the Heart Care Foundation of India is a leading National NGO working in the field of creating mass health awareness among people from all walks of life and providing solutions for India’s everyday healthcare needs. The NGO uses consumer-based entertainment modules to impart health education and increase awareness amongst people. A leading example of this is the Perfect Health Mela; an annual event started in 1993 that is attended by over 2-3 lakh people each year. The Mela showcases activities across categories such as health education seminars and check-ups, entertainment programs, lifestyle exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and competitions. In addition to this, the NGO conducts programs and camps to train people on the technique of hands only CPR through its CPR 10 mantra for revival after a sudden cardiac arrest. They currently hold three Limca book of world records for the maximum number of people trained in hands-only CPR in one go. Keeping article 21 of the Indian Constitution in mind, which guarantees a person Right to Life, Heart Care Foundation of India has also recently initiated a project called the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to ensure that no one dies of a heart disease just because they cannot afford treatment.