Dengue - Facts

With death tolls rising in the sub continent because of dengue, I thought of posting some information about this disease. If I had left out anything, do mail us or write on our FB wall.

Dengue (proper pronounciation 'den-gay') is also called the 'breakbone fever' or the 'dandy fever' as deformation of bones is its most known effect. Dengue is originally and mainly a tropical disease. It was unknown in the western hemisphere till the 1960s when the Caribbean saw deaths in the thousands in an epidemic breakout. Predictably, after that many measure were taken around the world to try prevent/control it.

Dengue is spread by mosquitoes belonging to the genus 'Aedes' (of the order Diptera), especially Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito). Aedes mosquitoes, that prefer biting during the daytime mainly at dawn and in the early evening, are also known to spread Chikungunya. (Chikungunya and Dengue share an important symptom - that of affecting the bones)

This disease is contracted by people with a low level of immunity and hence it is very dangerous to children. Those affected by dengue can have a wide range of illnesses from a seemingly normal viral fever to the fatal hemorrhagic fever.

There are four serotypes of dengue and hence, a person affected once by one serotype could contract this multiple times. As a result of such multiple attacks, the hemorrhagic fever is caused which is almost always fatal to children. Sadly, children are the main victims of dengue fever that is increasingly becoming the most dangerous mosquito borne viral disease to affect the human race and is soon sent to dethrone malaria from that spot it currently occupies.

There is also a belief that, after contracting dengue, if one was infected with the virus, they could develop an immunity that lasts a lifetime. With no scientific proof or confirmation, this might as well be a myth.

The common symptoms of dengue include internal bleeding, bleeding of nose and gums, shock, headache, fever, skin rashes, black stool, joint and muscle pains. If tit does not result in the fatal hemorrhage, it is known to deform and soften bones, thus making victims, especially children weaker.

It is dengue season now in the subcontinent and we have already lost lives unnecessarily. So people please be aware and safe. I'd post the precautions and preventive measures against mosquitoes and the diseases they spread soon. Till then, enjoy the m onsoon without the fear of those pesky vampires. (use VIEWnet).

Ciao.

Mosquitoes disappearing

On the last week of August, a news about the mysterious disappearance of mosquitoes was doing the rounds. Researchers had found that the number of mosquitoes especially those that spread malaria are hard to find in African nations, especially in and around countries like Tanzania, Angola etc.
But this news is NOT heartening as there are disputes about this claim and also there are differences of opinion about the reason for this 'disappearances'. The common perception is that the use of mosquitoes, both insecticide treated and otherwise, vaccinations and other such precautionary and prohibitory methods are finally paying of. Though this seems only logical the truth is such mass disappearance suddenly is not...practical. 
In Africa, like in other places around the world, the weather has kind of become freaky. yes, its the climate change thing. Now mosquitoes, all they do in their time is, eat, mate, bite us, lay egg, repeat this cycle as many times as they could in their lifetime and then die. The most important thing 'laying eggs' is kind of like the only reason they live for. Different species of mosquitoes have different needs and preferences when it comes to this. And being one of the most adaptable life forms, they've evolved so much that they could wait ALL winter with eggs in their bellies, lay eggs when the conditions favour them and then die. So with the climatic conditions bleak in Africa, I'd say they are bidding their time before they come back soon stronger than before. The problem here really is, as they are resistant to the insecticides (contrary to the claims of all manufacturers), we'd be poisoning ourselves more and more to stop them while they'd happily dodge our 'aims' and suck on.