With monsoons round the corner, the change in weather, erratic rainfall, temperatures and relative humidity patterns lead to vector-borne diseases.
The two major mosquito-borne viral fevers detected in South India are Malaria, Dengue and Chikungunya. Malaria remains the county’s most pervasive problem.
These are transmitted through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti, which are domestic day biting ones. The Aedes aegypti that spread the viral fever breeds in fresh water and dengue infections aggravate pre-existing conditions, leading to complications and multi-organ failure.
Here we are visiting 3 vector-borne viral fevers caused by mosquitoes – Dengue, Chikungunya and Malaria.
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, an acute illness with sudden onset. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness. This is a specific syndrome that often affects children under 10 years old causing abdominal pain, bleeding (hemorrhage). It’s possible to have dengue fever more than once, with a higher risk of a harsher form, the second time.
Primary symptoms of dengue appear 3 to 15 days after the mosquito bite and include:
Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles.
Symptoms of fever, rash, and headache also called the “dengue triad” is characteristic of dengue fever. The acute phase of the illness lasts for about a week or two. Blood tests can help diagnose dengue fever.
Diagnosis of acute or on-going dengue is best done during the first five days of experiencing the symptoms or convalescent period, by testing serum samples. Positive IgM and IgG tests for dengue antibodies detected in an initial blood sample mean that it is likely that the person became infected with the dengue virus.
Treatment for typical dengue fever is usually symptomatic, which aims at addressing symptoms by providing symptomatic relief. Early treatment can help reduce the risk.
More severe forms of dengue fever may need Intravenous (IV) fluid supplementation, or drip if the person cannot take fluids by mouth. Hospitalization will allow the individual to be properly monitored, in case symptoms get worse.
Chikungunya is transmitted by a bite from an infected female mosquito bite causing fever and joint pain. It is rarely fatal, but the symptoms can be severe, long-lasting, and debilitating. The fever lasts a few days, while the joint pain can last weeks or months. The symptoms are similar to dengue and can only be diagnosed through a blood test.
There are no vaccines to prevent this viral condition.
Symptoms of Chikungunya
The symptoms are very severe and disabling with:
Untreated chikungunya can lead to serious complications such as Retinitis (inflamed retina), Myocarditis (inflamed heart muscle), Hepatitis ( inflamed liver), Nephritis (inflamed kidneys), hemorrhage (bleeding) etc.
Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease, transmitted by Anopheles mosquito bite. It is caused by a Plasmodium parasite which travels to the host’s liver and multiplies before infecting and destroying red blood cells.
Symptoms
Symptoms resemble those of flu, but when untreated, the effects can sometimes be long-term and fatal. Symptoms of malaria typically last 6 to 10 hours and recur every second day. Some strains of the parasite can have a longer cycle or cause mixed symptoms. The common symptoms are:
Severe symptoms show signs of vital organ dysfunction and can be fatal without treatment.
Diagnosis is confirming the presence of the parasite in the blood, through microscopic laboratory testing or by a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT).
Viral Fever Treatment
The treatment for Malaria aims at eliminating the Plasmodium parasite from the patient’s bloodstream. WHO recommends Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to treat uncomplicated malaria.
Treatment of malaria is based on multiple factors such as severity, the virus species infecting the patient and the potential for drug resistance of the various species and strains of Plasmodium. Generally about two weeks of treatment for malaria to be cured.
Ravi Hospital is the best hospital for Viral Fever, has experienced and highly qualified general physicians to effectively treat viral diseases. They take a team approach to treating diseases and a multi-pronged approach, involving testing, treating and preventive care.
Diagnosis of Dengue and Chikungunya are critical to enable timely and appropriate treatment. Untreated dengue fever has a high rate of mortality – up to 50 percent. Our experienced physicians help is the right diagnosis.
Further, the hospital has some of the best facilities and infrastructure to handle all kinds of acute, serious illnesses. Ravi Hospital is the Best Hospital for Viral Fevers, Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya. We are equipped with 24/7 critical care, emergency services, ICU (Intensive Care Unit), 24-hour CT Scan, in-house diagnostic laboratory that enables quick slot thailand diagnosis and immediate treatment without delay.
Have questions or need an appointment? Call Ravi Hospitals at 040-4017 3131