Dengue Prevention and Control

Dengue is a viral infection that is spread through a certain subspecies of mosquitoes called the Aedes aegypti. These mosquitos are responsible for spreading dangerous diseases like dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and more. As a major part of India has a tropical climate, these mosquitoes are found in abundance in the country and increase the risk of people catching dengue. Fortunately, there are certain effective steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe against these mosquitoes and the dengue fever they spread. We have compiled a list of dengue prevention and control tips that you can use to keep yourself and your loved ones protected. 

Symptoms of Dengue 

Before we dive into the preventative measures of dengue, let’s try and understand the symptoms of this disease. This will help you identify if anyone in your vicinity has been infected with dengue fever. The symptoms of dengue usually start to appear around 4-5 days after an individual has been bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito. 

• High fever

• Nausea 

• Headache 

• Vomiting 

• Rashes 

Note: If you live in an area where dengue is common,  you should consider buying ‘Dengue Insurance’ to keep yourself financially protected against the medical cost of dengue treatment.  

Useful Tips for Dengue Prevention and Control 

Here is a list of dengue prevention and control measures which can be used for protecting yourself and your family: 

• Apply Mosquito Repellant Cream

One of the most effective ways to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes is to apply a mosquito repellant cream on your body. These repellant creams can provide dengue protection by blocking a mosquito’s sense of smell and interfering with their sensory receptors so they cannot locate people to bite and infect. However, some of these creams can cause a negative reaction in some people, so it is advised that you try out many different brands of repellant creams to find the one that is compatible for you. 

• Install a Protective Mesh on Doors and Windows 

Doors and windows need to be kept open for ventilation for at least a few hours but a large number of mosquitoes can enter your house through them. Installing a screen door or steel mesh on your windows and doors will allow you to keep them open for airflow while preventing mosquitoes from entering your house. There are dozens of options such as windows that come pre-fitted with mesh, screen doors, nylon mosquito nets, etc. 

• Avoid Keeping Stagnant Water Near Your House

Mosquitoes tend to breed in stagnant waters that have not been cleaned or used for days. If there are any such sources of water in or near your house, make sure to periodically clean them out and replace them with fresh water. This will help avoid infestation and breeding of mosquitoes in the area around your house. 

• Use Mosquito Sprays and Vapourisers

Insect repelling mosquito sprays can be highly effective in reducing the number of mosquitoes in your home. However, you will have to keep spraying the mosquito spray around your house in every nook and corner every day. This will ensure that mosquitoes do not come near or into your house. Alternatively, you can buy and install electric vapourisers in every room of your house. The smoke and chemicals emitted by these devices will make the mosquitoes fly out of your house.

• Wear Long Clothes 

Mosquitoes are attracted by the scent of your skin. If there are mosquitoes in your house even after taking the above steps, you can wear full-length pants and shirts with long sleeves to keep your skin covered as much as possible. If just a small portion of your skin is exposed, the chances of you being bitten by mosquitoes go down significantly. 

• Proper Ventilation and Lighting 

Mosquitoes like to congregate in cool and shady areas with low lighting. So, make sure that your room receives plenty of sunlight and ventilation during the day, as it will prevnet the entry mosquitoes into your room. You should also clean your room regularly with an antiseptic phenyl which will remove odours that attract mosquitoes and keep the area sanitised. 

To Conclude 

Using all of the above preventive measures for dengue will ensure that your exposure to mosquitoes is minimised, thus reducing your chances of contracting the viral dengue fever. While this disease is generally not life-threatening, it can become critical in rare cases, so it’s best to take the right dengue precautions rather than risk getting infected. However, if you live in a mosquito-infested area, avoiding this disease may not be fully possible. You can check out the ‘Pocket Insurance’ plans of Bajaj Markets and buy a plan that can help take care of your medical needs.

 

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in the article is for educational purpose only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical consultation provided by health professionals. In case of any symptoms or health issues, the reader must consult a physician.