The dengue situation in the country has worsened. Because of a new form or strain of the virus, patients’ condition is being seen to deteriorate quickly. But with proper awareness and timely treatment, the risk of death from dengue can largely be avoided.
Care and precautions at home
If a dengue test comes back positive, do not panic; get complete rest. Without a doctor’s advice, do not under any circumstances take any painkiller other than paracetamol (such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac), as this greatly increases the risk of bleeding. Drink plenty of water, green coconut water, oral saline, lemon water and soups. Keep the patient under a mosquito net at all times so that dengue does not spread to other members of the household.
Danger signs
Complications, or the “critical phase”, mainly begin between the third and seventh day of dengue fever, when the fever starts to come down. If any of the following signs appear at this stage, treat it as a danger signal:
- Persistent vomiting, or being unable to keep anything down.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Bleeding from the gums or nose or in vomit, and black stools.
- Extreme tiredness, lethargy or restlessness.
- A sharp drop in the amount of urine.
- A sudden fall in blood pressure, or the body becoming unusually cold.
When to go to hospital immediately
As soon as any one of the danger signs above appears, the patient must be admitted to the nearest hospital without delay. Pregnant women, children, older people and those with serious conditions such as diabetes or heart disease need extra caution from the start and should be kept under a doctor’s observation if they get dengue. Remember, awareness and quick, correct action are the main ways to save lives in dengue treatment. If symptoms appear, do not ignore them; see a doctor promptly.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report