I guess it is indeed true that prevention is still the best cure. Especially in the case of dengue fever, as no cure has been found for the actual disease itself. Now, the best way to prevent dengue fever is to avoid contact with mosquitoes. If you are traveling to an area where there are reports of dengue fever cases, it is best to bring mosquito repellent containing DEET. Apply repellant in the morning and in the late afternoon, as dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day. You can also wear long sleeved-shirts and long pants if the weather permits it.

During the 1960s, Dengue casualties were reduced significantly with the advent of vaccines and anti-biotic along with deadly viruses such as smallpox, poliomyelitis, and acute rheumatic fever. But Dengue is more than just a seasonal disease, as opposed to the others mentioned above. It is a killer spurned by poverty, social exclusion, health systems, environments, food security, water and sanitation. To win against it, proper education is very important. To truly win against the disease, public health vigilance in terms of modern structures will be needed. This will include disease monitoring, disease prevention, communication, and financial supports are all needed. 

The mosquito scourge is dependent on certain environmental conditions to survive and our meddling with nature as in the case of once arid lands, turning them into lush farmland may be responsible for spreading the disease. Mosquitoes thrive in tropical environments and with many tropical areas already infected, taming other places that used to be too harsh for them, where rainwater is so precious we try to collect each and every drop turning them into havens for the virus carrying mosquito. (more…)

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During the rainy season mosquito flourishes and stagnant water builds up that can be the can be their breeding ground. They can also breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year round. Most kids especially in school and are prone to this conditions our advised to wear long pants and long sleeves. For personal protection, they are asked to use mosquito repellant sprays or lotions that contain DEET like Off Lotion for kids by Johnson and Johnson that is so effective with non greasy feel.

One mosquito bite can inflict the disease called Dengue Fever. A virus contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. This mosquito is a daytime biter with peak periods of biting around sunrise and sunset. It may bite at any time of the day and is often hidden inside homes or other dwellings, especially in urban areas.

The prevention of dengue requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue. In places plagued by dengue fever, people are urged to empty stagnant water from old tires, trash cans, and flower pots. Governmental initiatives to decrease mosquitoes also help to keep the disease in check but have been poorly effective.
If bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from three to 15 (usually five to eight) days before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear. Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes, and low backache. Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs during the first hours of illness. The temperature rises quickly as high as 104° F (40° C), with relative low heart rate (bradycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). The eyes become reddened. A flushing or pale pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and groin are often swollen. Fever and other signs of dengue last for two to four days, followed by rapid drop in temperature (defervescence) with profuse sweating. This precedes a period with normal temperature and a sense of well-being that lasts about a day. A second rapid rise in temperature follows. A characteristic rash appears along with the fever and spreads from the extremities to cover the entire body except the face. The palms and soles may be bright red and swollen. If this signs show kindly consult a doctor and have your blood tested for accurate diagnosis.
The Dengue Fever virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway. There is currently no vaccine available for dengue fever because it is caused by a virus; there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration is important. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine may be given for severe headache and for the joint and muscle pain (myalgia).
There is a vaccine undergoing clinical trials, but it is too early to tell if it will be safe or effective.

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The rate of deaths associated with dengue fever is now becoming less. But this does not mean that we should not put concern on it. Many of my friends had dengue and according to them, it is not easy. We should keep in mind that dengue fever is fatal and it must be prevented.
As what people who are associated with the health department say, we must prevent it. And this is prevented by particularly, keeping our homes clean—inside and outside.
Aedes Aegypti, the kind of mosquito that carries the disease, lays their eggs in stagnant water which is found in our homes. Change the water in flower vases every other day to prevent the mosquitoes from laying their egg there. And keep the water containers covered,.
For yourself, see to it that you apply mosquito repellant lotion. Several are available in the market with variations of scents.
Bear in mind that prevention is better than cure.

Scientists, with the help of local children in Vietnam have found an alternative way to fight off dengue-carrying mosquitoes. They found out that there are certain types of water bugs that destroy said mosquitoes. They have been placing these bugs in nine areas of north and central Vietnam and they have observed that cases of dengue fever in said areas have been reduced to zero over a five year period. One of the scientists in this research, Professor Brian Kay, from the Queensland Institute of Research, said that this scheme is being extended to 37 other areas of Vietnam but wished to see it used on a global scale.

Source: BBC News

The Dengue prevention organization also believes that educational programs are not prioritized seeing that resources to implement them are not evaluated on a regular basis. The education is somewhat mixed-up and done by inexperienced individuals who at most times give confusing instructions. The training of the staff, to be truly credible in educating the public about dengue, costs too much for countries in which the number one problem is famine. Governments have to keep in mind that if it wants to prevent a mass outbreak, it should make dengue prevention a priority. They don’t have to spend much, Dengue prevention is all about making do with available resources. 

Mosquito coils and electric vapor mats are effective products to get rid of mosquitoes especially during rainy season, just after sunrise and/or in the afternoon hours before sunset. Mosquito nets are also effective guard over sleeping places which can protect small children and others who are resting during the day. The usefulness of such nets can be improved by treating them with permethrin (a parathyroid insecticide). Curtains  can also be treated with insecticide and hung at windows or doorways, thus, repelling or killing mosquitoes. Meanwhile, mosquito repellents or lotions can be applied to exposed parts of the body where mosquitoes bite. Screens on windows and doorways as well, are effective protection against the entry of mosquitoes in homes. 

The best thing that you could do to prevent mosquito breeding is to get rid of stagnant water in your home. These mosquitoes do not even need a lot of water. Even just a bucket with a little water at the bottom, a planter that has a bottom water catch, leaky pipes, or a pooling area under your plants is enough for them to breed.