To defeat dengue, consult doctor the moment fever hits

PANAJI: Even as fewer dengue cases were reported in July this year compared to the same period in 2022, August recorded a spurt in dengue cases at the regular hot spots and a suspected dengue death in Candolim. In July, 30 cases were reported vis-à-vis 47 in the same month last year.
An uptick was reported from the primary health centres of Candolim, Chimbel, Cortalim, and Vasco.
At the Chimbel primary health centre, dengue cases were noted from Taleigao, Santa Cruz, and Merces.
Various parts of Vasco such as Vaddem, New Vaddem, Sada, and Mangor reported a high incidence of dengue, but there too, a drop has been noted.
An intensive drive is being carried out at these hot spots, said Dr Kalpana Mahatme, in charge of the national vector-borne disease control programme in Goa.
Even parts of Candolim which saw a high incidence of dengue over the past few days have started registering a drop, she said.
“I think the rise was due to dry spells observed over the past month,” she said. “Short spells of rain lead to water collecting in discarded receptacles such as coconut shells and plastic cups.”
Mahatme added that cases will fall in September, as has been the pattern.
She however wants people to not take the symptoms of dengue lightly.
“People may ignore dengue symptoms assuming it is a viral infection,” said Mahatme. “For any fever, people should go to the nearest health centre and get tested rather than self-medicate.”
In dengue, she said, a patient may not have a fever two to three days after being infected but may develop complications.
Consistent vomiting and abdominal pain are symptoms of dengue. Some may develop a rash on the body, feel fatigue, or start bleeding from the nose or gums. “Anyone with these symptoms should go to the doctor without delay,” she said.
The classic symptoms of dengue, she said, include high fever, severe headache, and acute pain behind the eye.
“If it’s a viral infection, the patient’s temperature will not normally shoot past 100 F,” she said. “If the classic symptoms of dengue are seen, a patient should seek immediate medical help even if the rapid test has returned a negative result.”