Prevention Against Dengue and Chikungunya!

The earlier a disease like dengue is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include high fever, pain behind the eyes, bleeding from the nose and gums, headaches, restlessness, loss of appetite, nausea and red patches on the skin. These symptoms can begin appearing up to 2 weeks after a mosquito bite. If a viral fever continues for over 3 days, you should get tested for dengue and chikungunya.

Not all the symptoms of dengue and chikungunya are the same. Some of the common symptoms include high fever, red spots or patches on the skin and headaches. In the case of dengue, the patient may also experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bleeding from the nose and gums, restlessness and pain behind the eyes. Chikungunya is characterized by severe joint pains and swelling in joints. Body pain in the case of chikungunya is also much more severe as compared to dengue. Fever should not be allowed to spike very high in case of both these diseases as it could cause organ damage.

Preventing mosquito bites is the most important part of dengue and chikungunya prevention. For this, you must wear full-length trousers and full sleeved shirts whenever you step out during the day or night. Mosquito repellent should also be used judiciously at all times. Use a mesh on all your windows to keep mosquitoes out of your home. While you are outdoors in the garden on or on your terrace you could also use a fan to keep mosquitoes away. Do not allow water to stagnate around your house as mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

There is no vaccine that can protect a person against chikungunya. The only way to prevent the disease is to protect yourself against mosquito bites. Burning camphor with a few drops of neem oil is a good way of keeping your home free of mosquitoes. You could also boost your immunity by drinking a cup of tulsi tea each day.