Bites from mosquitoes may cause dengue fever
Dengue fever is an insect-borne acute infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. The disease mainly occurs from May to November, peaking between July and September.
Due to the severe pain it causes, dengue is also known as "breakbone fever". Symptoms include a high fever above 40 °C, a rash on the face, neck, and chest, severe headache, and pain in the joints and muscles. Dengue shock syndrome may also occur, which is characterized by severe bleeding, a drop in blood pressure, and potential death if not treated properly.
Dengue fever usually will not be transmitted from person to person. It is mainly caused by bites from the yellow fever mosquito and the tiger mosquito. Dengue fever infection symptoms typically appear within a few days of being bitten, but can take up to two weeks to develop.
Prevention
Prevention includes avoiding mosquito bites and controlling the mosquito population. Here are some key strategies:
To avoid mosquito bites:
Use mosquito barricades: Use mosquito nets and window screens.
Use insect repellents: Apply mosquito repellents such as mosquito coils, DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, and more.
Wear protective clothing: Choose light color clothes, long-sleeve shirts and long trousers.
Wash more often: Keep yourself clean and dry.
Avoid certain times and spaces: Do not stay long in outdoor shady areas, such as under trees, on lawns, or in pavilions, during peak mosquito activity times, which are typically 7-9 am and 4-6 pm.
To control mosquito population:
Eliminate breeding sites: Remove stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. This includes emptying, cleaning, or covering containers that can hold water, such as buckets, flower pots, trash cans, and scrap tires.
Use larvicides: Treat water containers with larvicides to kill mosquito larvae. (Please apply larvicides under the guidance of professional personnel and relevant departments.)
Be aware that dengue and influenza share similar symptoms, which can lead to misjudgment. If you notice any relevant signs mentioned above, seek medical attention immediately. If you have recent travel or work history abroad or outside the province, please inform the doctor and cooperate in dengue fever testing.
Currently, there is no targeted medication for dengue. Sun Yat-sen University is experimenting with a new control method by releasing sterile male mosquitoes to mate with the females. This is done in order to prevent newborn mosquitoes from maturing and, thus, reduce the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases.
Author | Tonny (intern), Chua
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Monica, Will, James
