There is dengue fever from harmless to life-threatening, and attitudes towards the mosquito-borne virus are equally diametrical. Many people simply underestimate it, while others panic. As is so often the case, the truth lies in the middle.

Transmission and prevention

Dengue fever is a viral disease caused by the diurnal Tiger mosquito is transmitted. That is why it is important to standing water around the bungalow or house, for example in coconut shells, between tree roots, in flower pot coasters, or in rain barrels, and to eliminate them. This is the number 1 breeding area for the little beasts! The fewer of them floating around, the lower the risk of infection. Used when necessary Anti-mosquito products, lights smoke coils and uses Mosquito nets. The tiger mosquito can ingest blood from a sick person and transfer it to another person, this is important to know if your roommate is sick.

Tiger mosquito

Medical facts

The incubation period can last three to fourteen days, but the disease usually breaks out between the fourth and seventh day. Basically, this time specification is not particularly helpful because you do not notice when you are bitten by an infected mosquito. In most cases, the course is comparable to that of flu and does not necessarily require hospitalization. The patient develops a high fever and suffers from headache, joint pain and aches and pains. Dengue is nicknamed "Bonebreaker fever“, Because of the very strong muscle pain, the bone pain (especially in the spine and extremities), as well as a tenderness behind the eyes. Most of the time it comes to one second bout of feverwhich then brings the characteristic, itchy rash all over the body. Other side effects are fatigue, nausea and vomiting, as well as swollen lymph nodes.

Usually all symptoms subside after seven to ten days and you recover completely. However, you can still Weeks after the illness suffer from great weakness and exhaustion. After a month or two it can become strong, diffuse Hair loss come. People too Depression tend should pay attention to the omens, because this is also a not uncommon late phenomenon.

There are five strands the dengue virus is known. After an infection, you are immune to everyone for a short time and to the strain you had for life. If you become infected with dengue again, the course of the disease is usually more severe.

Attention, difficult course

Critical disease courses are Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome.

Both are life-threatening conditions and must be treated in hospital!

These two courses occur primarily at Children under 15 years, and at People with second infections on. The complications usually only occur when you actually feel better, i.e. between third and seventh day the disease.

In hemorrhagic fever, there is one severe drop in platelet counts, this has the consequence that it can lead to diverse, uncontrolled bleeding. For example, bleeding into the skin or the mucous membranes, nose and gum bleeding, and the permeability of the blood vessel walls increases, which is why internal bleeding may occur.

If the blood pressure is completely derailed due to the illness, the heart can no longer pump enough blood through the body and one develops Undersupply of the vital organs. The body is in dengue shock syndrome.

The treatment

First of all - there is no causal treatment, only the symptoms can be alleviated and kept under control. The most important thing is to keep hydrated and the fever under control. Pain-relieving and fever-lowering drugs (such as paracetamol) are administered. Medicines that impair blood clotting must not be taken, including above all acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ibuprofen.

thermometer

Experience first hand

It was my second infection. I had my first experience with dengue fever in 2016, it was tough but bearable and I recovered quite quickly afterwards. But this time it really knocked me off my feet, and it actually took me more than two months to be completely restored.

Still before the fever set in I noticed extreme exhaustion and tiredness. I don't mean just very tired and exhausted, but actually dead tired and completely powerless. The complaints during the infection were varied and sometimes frightening. For example, I constantly had to go to the toilet to urinate. That sounds so harmless, but apart from that getting up and walking is very painful and exhausting, the fever dehydrates the body even without trying with all his might to flush out the virus. I couldn't drink as much as I lost in the bathroom. In the critical phase for severe progression, the pain on pressure behind the left eye really picked up speed and I developed a cloudy area in the field of vision. That was the scary part then. Unfortunately, I was also one of those who suffered from severe hair loss as a long-term consequence.

I didn't go to the doctor or to a hospital, which I actually regret a little. I could have made it a lot easier for myself, and from a purely emotional point of view I would now say afterwards that it was not entirely safe.

Everything turned out well, first the eyesight normalized, then the muscle pain stopped and then the shortness of breath with the slightest exertion was over. Hair loss, well, what is already damaged cannot be prevented from falling out, but you can prevent further damage with high doses of vitamins and minerals and promote the growth of new, fresh, beautiful hair. Be careful when taking high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements! Get expert advice, because you can do more harm than good in the body with it. Are you on the island I want First Pharma in Thongsala recommend that the two employees are very competent and helpful.

That was my personal story with dengue fever. At the same time, however, I have known people for over 20 years on the island live and still never dengue had, and also some who had it before and who got along without any severe symptoms. In my case I have to admit that I am easy was careless as far as prevention was concerned. It rained a lot and I didn't care about the water that was left behind, and I thought I could do without mosquito repellants.

Anti mosquitoes

My advice is:

  1. Prevention! Prevention! Prevention!
  2. If you suspect, have a blood test for dengue and have your platelets checked.
  3. Drink, drink, drink as much as you can and then more!
  4. Start with vitamin supplements as soon as you can.
  5. As soon as your condition worsens, go to the hospital.

travel insurance

Travel health insurance makes perfect sense, because if you have a serious illness you have to be monitored and treated in the hospital and you are also not able to travel. You also save your nerves if you do not have to make your decision to seek medical treatment or not dependent on financial issues.

Our recommendation: International Travel Insurance from Allianz Travel, complete online here.

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