Although mosquitoes are small creatures, they can create big problems for humans and animals, because severe diseases are caused by them such as dengue fever and malaria among others, producing broad morbidity and mortality.
Recently the dengue fever outbreak was witnessed in the city.
Dengue is a seasonal infection and viruses that appear with headaches, muscle pain & joints, fatigue, rashes that last for 4-7 days and need to be treated simptomatic with paracetamol and many oral fluids.
Ibuprofen and aspirin containing drugs should not be given.
There are 4 different serotypes, but closely related, which causes dengue (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4).
Infection with one of the four serotypes for the first time is believed to have a lifetime immunity to the serotype, but confer partial or temporary immunity to other serotypes.
The second infection by other serotypes produces a higher virus burden and contributes to an increase in the severity of the disease.
Usually it is a young disease, but the disease in old age requires special care.
Secondary infections have been associated with a large clinical outbreak and clinical hemorhagium fever bleeding and dengue shock syndrome.
Severe dengue warning signs are persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding from any site, fast breathing, anxiety, confusion and irritability.
These patients can land in multi-organ failure, and therefore must immediately seek medical attention.
They may require hospitalization for effective liquid management, and organ support in intensive care units.
Thrombocytes need to watch after 4 days and transfusion are shown only if the patient starts to bleed.
Dengue is diagnosed with serological tests.
Positive NS1 antigens in the early days followed by IgM Antibodies 1 week after infection, the highest at 2 to 4 weeks after the disease.
They remain detected for about 3 months.
The presence of IgM antibodies is an indication of the recent dengue virus infection.
The level of IgG antibodies takes longer to develop than IgM, but the IGG remains in the body for years.
The presence of IgG is an indication of past infections.
Thrombocytes need to be monitored after 4 days of fever along with liver and kidney function.
Dengue Virus (DENV) is distributed to humans through the bite of the Aedes species of infected women (aegypti or ae.
Albopictus) mosquitoes.
Mosquito is 4-7mm, dark and has white marks on the legs and signs of lyre on the thorax.
Mosquito Aedes Aegypti cannot stay alive during the winter and thus just lay eggs in summer or rainy season.
They usually lay eggs near the household because of closeness to potted plants and water still.
Mosquito dengue mostly bit the victim during the day.
Mosquitoes are most active during the day, about two hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset.
These mosquitoes usually rest in a cool and shady area, like closets and under the bed.
Even though they usually bite during the day, there is a possibility that they can bite humans at night too.
They usually target areas such as ankles and elbows.
Mosquitoes become infected from viremic people with DENV.
This can be someone who has a symptom-dengue infection, someone who does not have a symptomatic infection (they are pre-symptomatic), but also people who do not show signs of disease also (they do not show symptoms).
Human-to-mosquito transmission can occur up to 2 days before someone shows symptoms of a disease, or up to 2 days after the fever has been resolved.
The author is Associate Professor in Medicine, the Medical College Government, Nagpur.
He is also a secretary, an Indian Doctor Association – Chapter Vidarbha.
‘Dengue is a young disease but too much needs to be considered’
