Best Ways To Prevent And Treat Dengue Fever (You Might Have It And Not Know It!)

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8. Guppies

If you have bodies of water around your home, such as large fountains or man-made ponds where draining the water is difficult or impossible, you can still avoid mosquitoes from laying their eggs there by adding guppies. Guppies are small, freshwater fish that eat mosquito eggs and larva, so they naturally control the mosquito population. Guppies are very inexpensive and don’t mind cold water. Put guppies in the largest part of your fountain and be sure to block the pump inlet so that they don’t get sucked into it. Guppies are a pretty addition to any pond!

9. Avoid High Activity Times

The types of mosquitoes that tend to carry dengue fever are more active during the day than night and most mosquitoes are more active at dawn, dusk, and the early evening hours. Avoiding being outside during these active times can go a long way towards reducing your risk of being bitten. Always use mosquito nets around children’s beds and use them even for short naps. Children are especially vulnerable to dengue fever and its deadly complications. Stay inside during high activity times and encourage children to play indoors during these hours.

10. Travel Smart

If you plan a vacation to high risk areas, you would be wise to take steps to limit your exposure to mosquitoes. Stay in hotel rooms or resorts that have air conditioning. If this isn’t possible, be sure the room has screens that fit tightly and that are intact. You might want to consider taking a plug in device that attracts and sucks up mosquitoes like a vacuum. If there is no air conditioning, ask if your hotel supplies nets for the beds. Burn a citronella candle in your room. Avoid being outside during times of high activity and wear protective, long sleeved clothing as much as possible. Always use mosquito repellents on exposed skin.

Keep the symptoms of dengue fever in mind so that if you are bitten by a mosquito, you can get proper medical attention. Common symptoms are:

Sudden high fever of 104 or more
Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Vomiting
Rash, usually appearing two to five days after the fever begins
Nausea
Intense muscle and/or joint pain
Mild bleeding from the gums or nose

These symptoms usually begin somewhere between 4 to 6 days after you are bitten and can last for up to 10 days. If you or your children develop a sudden high fever with vomiting and any other symptoms on this list, see a doctor immediately.

References:

Cdc.gov

Who.int