Dengue Cases On the Rise: Symptoms, How To Detect & Treatment

Bangalore is presently under dengue alert after the infection spread to over 1,000 individuals within a span of 20 days, projecting a constant rise in cases.

The focal point behind dengue spread in Karnataka is the unusual weather conditions, lesser than expected rain and unexpected cold winds have created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the carriers of dengue. Additionally, Bruhat Benagaluru Mahanagar Pallike (BBMP's) increased surveilance has led led to increase in the rate of detections, contributing to the higher case numbers, according to media reports.

How does this arboviral disease spread?

Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from yellow fever mosquito called Aedes aegypti to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

Most people who get dengue will not have symptoms. But for those who do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital, it said.

Symptoms of dengue

Usually, people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and see an improvement in a period of 1-2 weeks. Rarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death.  

If symptoms occur, they usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last for 2–7 days. Symptoms may include:

high fever (40°C/104°F)
severe headache
pain behind the eyes
muscle and joint pains
nausea
vomiting
swollen glands
rash.

Treatment of dengue

There is no specific treatment for dengue. The focus is on treating pain symptoms. Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding, according to a WHO report. For people with severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed.