Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that is usually an illness in which a person may get a fever, headache, joint, and muscle pains.
Rest and adequate hydration are usually enough to see one through the period of illness. The recommended treatment for the fever is acetaminophen/paracetamol. The Ministry urges members of the public not to use aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, or any of the medications/pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs, when used to treat the fever in dengue, have been known to increase the severity of the disease.
At present, the only way to prevent and control the Dengue epidemic is to combat the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
The following are some tips on how you can do that:
1. Discard old drums, used tyres, plastic containers and other items that collect rainwater. These items act as breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
2. Sleeping area should have mosquito netting over the bed.
3. Avoid mosquito bites even during the day.
4. Wear long sleeves shirts and long pants outdoor.
5. Use mosquito repellent on skin and clothing.
6. Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around homes.
7. Regularly change water in animals and pets container.
Information gathered from the Ministry of Health Website.