Waspada ! - Tanda terbaru demam denggi

Jika anda tinggal di Malaysia, terutamanya di negeri-negeri yang mencatatkan kes demam denggi yang paling tinggi, tolong waspada !. Kementerian Kesihatan melaporkan bahawa ada tanda terbaru kes demam denggi yang agak berbeza berbanding yang diketahi umum sebelum ini.

Untuk maklumat pembaca berikut adalah senarai negeri-negeri yang mencatatkan kes demam denggi yang paling hebat di negara kita. Kes yang direkodkan di bawah adalah jumlah kes terkumpul untuk tahun ini, 2015 sahaja. Kes direkodkan daripada 4hb Jan 2015 hingga 3hb Feb 2015:

1. Selangor - 6915 kes
2. Perak - 1456 kes
3. Johor - 724 kes
4. WP Kuala Lumpur - 670 kes
5. Pulau Pinang - 622 kes
6. Pahang - 351 kes
7. Sarawak - 336 kes
8. Sabah - 307 kes
9. Kelantan - 260 kes
10. Melaka - 249 kes
11. Negeri Sembilan - 202 kes
12. Terengganu - 183 kes
13. Kedah - 103 kes
14. Perlis - 49 kes
15. WP Putrajaya - 14 kes
16. WP Labuan - Tiada kes

Rekod kematian untuk tahun 2015 sahaja yang baru bermula nampaknya amat menyedihkan. Seramai 20 orang telah meninggal dunia akibat kes demam denggi di negara kita!. Itu hanyalah rekod untuk bulan lepas iaitu daripada 4hb Jan 2015 hingga 29hb Jan 2015.

Untuk anda yang tinggal di 5 negeri tertinggi di atas terutamanya dan khususnya anda yang tinggal di Selangor, sila perhatikan tanda terbaru demam denggi yang diberikan oleh Kementerian kesihatan ini.

Tanda biasa kes demam denggi

Kebiasaannya, kita boleh mengecam kes demam denggi apabila seseorang itu menghadapi demam panas yang kuat. Kemudiannya dalam masa yang sama menghadapi masalah pening kepala yang kuat, sakit pada anggota badan terutamanya pada sendi-sendi yang ada. Kita juga boleh kesan adanya kemungkinan kes demam denggi jika ada bintik-bintik merah pada kulit.

Tanda-tanda yang saya sebutkan di atas adalah apa yang kita dah tahu selama ini. Dan segala tanda-tanda tersebut masih kekal. Jika anda ada terasa keadaan sedemikian, segera jumpa doktor untuk buat pemeriksaan. Jangan tangguh kerana anda sedang bermain dengan kemungkinan yang boleh membawa maut.

Tanda terbaru demam denggi

Baru-baru ini, nampaknya tanda demam denggi telah menunjukkan tambahan. Selain daripada apa yang disebutkan di atas, berikut adalah tanda terbaru demam denggi:

• Rasa mual
• Muntah
• Citit birit

Ada kes yang mengalami masalah tersebut di atas, tanpa adanya tanda-tanda biasa kes demam denggi sebelum ini tetapi didapati telah mengalami masalah demam denggi.

Kes terbaru yang membawa kematian adalah kes kanak-kanak berumur 14 tahun dan seorang wanita dalam lingkungan 30-an. Mereka mengalami tanda-tanda baru seperti di atas dan doktor yang merawat memberikan rawatan terhadap kes keracunan tanpa menjangkakan ianya adalah kes demam denggi.

Apabila pesakit dibawa ke hospital, segalanya sudah terlambat dan keadaan menjadi semakin teruk dan tidak dapat diselamatkan lagi. Para doktor dinasihatkan agat jangan hanya bergantung pada pemeriksaan jumlah platelet pada darah saja, ianya sudah tidak memadai. 

Pemeriksaan lanjut yang dipanggil sebagai "haematocrit", atau "packed cell volume" (PCV) dan juga "erythrocyte volume fraction" (EVF) perlu juga dilaksanakan bagi mendapatkan kepastian. Saya tak tahu apa yang dimaksudkan dengan dua pemeriksaan tersebut di atas. Tapi yang pentingnya, eloklah kita hafal sahaja terma tersebut agar tidak ketinggalan dengan maklumat terbaru ini.

Tahukah anda di mana pesakit terkena gigitan aedes

Ya! tahukah anda kat mana biasanya para pesakit yang dilaporkan terkena jangkitan kes demam denggi terkena gigitan nyamuk?

Daripada maklumat kementerian kesihatan, sebanyak 70% daripada kes mereka yang mengidapi demam denggi terkenan gigitan nyamuk aedes di kawasan berhampiran tempat tinggal mereka. Ini satu maklumat penting untuk kita semua berikan perhatian penuh.

Maknanya, jika kita semua prihatin dan berusaha sedaya upaya mengawal pembiakan nyamuk aedes di persekitaran tempat tinggal, usaha ini sudah tentu dapat membantu mengurangkan majoriti daripada kes demam denggi.

Abai saranan agama antara punca demam denggi

Anda sendiri tahu bagaimana nak kawal pembiakan nyamuk aedes, musnahkan segala pusat pembiakan nyamuk yang ada di dalam rumah, luar rumah, halaman rumah, tepi rumah persekitaran rumah dan di persekitaran kejiranan anda. Kalau nak dapatkan maklumat berkenaan kawalan serangga perosak dan juga kawalan nyamuk boleh terjah pada Blog ini.

Mungkin semua ini agak sukar nak dilaksanakan kerana alasan sibuk tak cukup tanah untuk kejar wang, samada untuk keperluan sesuap nasi ataupun untuk tambahkan kekayaan.

Dengan kesibukan itu juga kita abaikan semangat kejiranan dan abaikan saranan agama agar berbaik dengan para jiran dan saling bantu membantu. Ditambah dengan sikap saling benci membenci dengan masalah perbezaan politik dan serangan perkauman dan keagamaan, kita menjarakkan lagi semangat kerjasama kejiranan.

Dengan tidak adanya sikap bantu membantu dan saling kenal mengenal sesama jiran, manakan mungkin dapat dilaksanakan kerjasama pembersihan pada kawasan umum terutamanya antara premis kita dengan semua jiran yang ada?

Myths and facts about dengue

Dr Srikant Sharma, Consultant, Internal Medicine at Moolchand Medcity answers our most persistent questions related to the deadly dengue. Read on...

Is it true that Dengue mosquitoes bite only during the day time?

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito that typically attacks during day time.  Its favorite spots are below the elbow and below the knee.

Do Dengue mosquitoes die in winters?

Dengue mosquitoes can't breed once the temperature falls below 16 degree. They are generally active between the time period of August-October, which is the peak period for both malaria and dengue. Rarely has transmission been witnessed during winters.

Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue?

No, till now there is no vaccine to protect against dengue. There has been recent progress in the field of vaccine development.  The candidate currently at the most advanced clinical development stage till now is live attenuated tetravalent vaccine.

Drinking papaya leaves juice, goat's milk etc will help in gaining blood platelets?

False, it is a myth, till now it not proved scientifically.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called "break-bone" fever because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking. Health experts have known about dengue fever for more than 200 years.

What geographic areas are at high risk for contracting dengue fever?

The situation in our country is reflected by the occurrence of major disease outbreaks in India over last few years. However, no reliable data are available to assess the exact magnitude of the disease in our country. In fact, many of the smaller outbreaks go unreported. However, the first major outbreak of dengue fevers happened  in the year 1996 in Delhi where more than 10,000 cases and 400 deaths were reported.  (According to facts published in a recent report)

How is dengue fever contracted?

Dengue virus can be contracted from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite infected humans, and can later transmit the infection to other people.  Dengue cannot be transmitted from person to person without a mosquito as the intermediate vector.
Dengue

What are dengue fever symptoms and signs?

Dengue is usually accompanied with sign and symptoms of sudden high grade fever, accompanied by severe retro-orbital headache, body ache, sore throat and rashes. Other features like itching, nausea-vomiting suggestive of gall bladder inflammation or liver inflammation. Presence of restlessness (oxygen deficiency in the brain), abdominal pain and black stools (GI bleeding), minor bleeding from skin, nose, mouth etc signifies urgency.

When should one get concerned?

One should immediately go to the doctor if experiencing symptoms like recurrent vomiting, intolerable severe aches, headache/body ache, high grade fever, low BP, drowsiness, severe exertion, bleeding from any body part, rapid fall in platelets etc. The period of maximum risk is between the third and the seventh day of illness. But there is no need to panic and no platelet transfusion is required unless platelet count is less than 10,000 or there is a presence of spontaneous bleeding.  During epidemics, people of all ages are involved otherwise the disease is more common in children.

Read Story: Goat milk sells for Rs.2,500 per litre in dengue-hit Delhi

How is dengue fever diagnosed?

There are four main laboratory methods to diagnose dengue infection: NS1 Antigen, viral isolation in culture, detection of viral RNA by PCR technique, and specific IgM/IgG antibodies in paired sera. The gold standard is usually a combination of dengue NS1 and serology (Antibodies) methods. Dengue NS1 is positive in 80% cases in first day and in 2-3 days it is 60-80% positive. IgM test may take 5-7 days to become positive. Viral isolation is costly, the results are usually available after 6 to 10 days and it is only obtainable in laboratories with the appropriate infrastructure for cell culture or mosquito colonies.

The RT-PCR and other PCR-based techniques give results within 24 hours but they are also costly and they are not available for most clinicians.

On the contrary, there are commercially available immunochromatographic and ELISA tests for the detection of IgM/IgG antibodies which give results within minutes or few hours. However, the detection of antibodies in a dengue infected person is only possible after 4-5 days of disease onset. Moreover, a single positive IgM result suggests recent infection but paired sera samples (IgM or IgG) showing seroconversion or a fourfold titer increase are required to confirm diagnosis

What is the prognosis for typical dengue fever?

According to Dr. Sharma, only 1 in every 13 patients suffering from dengue consult a doctor.  Mortality rate of in Dengue fever cases is 1-2%, mortality rate in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is 10% and mortality rate in dengue shock syndrome is 12-44% as per various studies.

What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?

Mostly dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but a very small percentage of infections can develop into the far more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). This disease is identified with low platelet count, leaking blood vessels causing bleeding from bodily orifices through nose, mouth and gums. Bruising can be another sign of bleeding inside the body. Unavailability of right treatment at right time can result in collapse of the blood vessels causing shock (Dengue shock syndrome) and very often death. Thus it is very necessary to seek for urgent medical help if patient starts bleeding from body orifices.  Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a serious condition responsible for 10% of total dengue related mortality.

How can dengue fever be prevented?

Mentioned below are some of the preventive tips for dengue:

-Use a mosquito repellent spray or lotion on your body and stay in well-screened areas
-Wear full sleeves clothes
-As dengue mosquito is a day biter so ensure while sleeping in afternoon area should have mosquito netting over the bed
-Prevent dengue patients to go in crowded places, office or school.
-Avoid leaving any containers of standing water outside where mosquitoes can breed
-Put one tablespoon of petrol over standing water to deprive mosquito from oxygen which is required for breeding of mosquitoes.
-Meet your doctor immediately if you have been in an area endemic to dengue fever and you have any illness with fever that lasts for more than two days
-Take lot of fluid to avoid dehydration in the form of coconut water, lemonade etc.

Read Story: Dengue in Delhi: Sheila Dikshit blames BJP-led civic body for mosquito-borne disease

What are the long term effects of Dengue fever?

A dengue patient may have certain long term effects:

-Immunological reaction in body developed following infection by one of the four dengue viruses appears to increase the risk of severe dengue when the same individual is infected with any of the remaining three virus.
-Vague muscle pain, joint pain and weakness which sustain for some weeks to several months.
-Patient becomes more vulnerable to several other diseases due to low body immunity.
-If dengue is accompanied by certain complications like encephalitis, seizures, depression, pneumonia, cardio myopathy, liver injury, orchitis, oophoritis etc then it may persist during post dengue period.

What care should patients take after they come out of the illness?

Due to dengue patients immunity power weakens. We advise patient to stay away from patient suffering from fever, cough, tuberculosis, infective diseases.  Follow healthy living and eating habits. Practice yoga and exercise daily. Include diet with high minerals, protein and vitamins and think positive.

Dr Srikant Sharma is Consultant, Internal Medicine at Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi

5 Facts About Dengue Fever and Mosquitoes

Learn about the 5 Facts About Dengue Fever and Mosquitoes. There are many insects around us but mosquitoes are just some of the insects that could really bring us fatal diseases if we are not responsible to ourselves and environment. This article provides information of the reality that we don't even know about dengue virus knowledge is always the key to early prevention of any disease.

Most tropical countries encounter dengue fever health condition particularly in the winter time as mosquitoes have more breeding grounds. Dengue fever is already common on tropical countries but recently, there have been many cases of dengue fever which took many lives because they become severe. Dengue is caused by mosquito bites carrying the dengue virus and once it entered the body, they begin to dominate every single cell and overpower the white blood cells. It is very important for us to be responsible and knowledgeable about this condition by knowing the facts about dengue fever. This is to make us prevent these diseases as early as possible before it becomes severe.

There are actually many ways to prevent mosquito bites thus preventing dengue fever condition. However, we cannot resist all mosquitoes from biting us because there are instances that we travel from different places where dengue carrying mosquitoes are just around. In fact, some places in tropical countries even experience dengue outbreak wherein infected mosquitoes start to bite many people and spread the disease. Most dengue victims don't even know that they have this disease until they experience severe bleeding because the onset of dengue starts with a simple fever and headache similar to flu. These are the facts about dengue fever that we should know for us to be aware of its prevention.

  Dengue Fever is actually not fatal
This is one of the most important facts about dengue fever health condition. Dengue is actually not fatal as most people think however, when a simple dengue is fever turned into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, this is the time that immediate medication and hospitalization are needed. Dengue is usually characterized by high fever, severe headache, rashes around the body and pain in the muscles. This condition can last up to ten days, drinking lot of water and eating nutritious foods are needed during this period. However, there are instances that a simple dengue fever could turn into dengue hemorrhagic fever within 3 to 5 days and this condition should be immediately treated in the hospital as blood transfusion is necessary.


We Can Still Suffer Dengue Fever Several Times
The first encounter of dengue fever doesn't actually assure that our body is safe from possible dengue viruses this is because there are 4 serotypes of this condition. We can still be infected by dengue viruses anytime and anywhere so the best way to protect ourselves is by eradicating the breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Cleaning stagnant canals, removing water from flower vases and cleaning the surroundings are the best remedies to prevent dengue fever. These are just some of the facts about dengue fever that we should know and keep in mind all the time.

Only Female Mosquitoes are Dengue Carriers
Dengue viruses causing dengue fever are caused by the bites of female mosquitoes. The virus are only carried and spread by female Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes as the human blood is rich in protein necessary for their production of eggs. Male mosquitoes only rely on the plant nectars as their food for survival. Most Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus usually bite on daytime. The only way to prevent this disease is to remove all their possible ways to reproduce more eggs. The facts about dengue fever could only be understood properly by understanding about these mosquito carrying viruses.

Nature Can Help in Reducing the Number of Mosquitoes
One of the common facts about dengue fever and mosquitoes is that nature can prevent this disease from affecting us so we need to take care of our nature. Nature can significantly reduce the increasing number of mosquitoes around us remember that mosquitoes can multiply rapidly because they lay many eggs. Animals such as frogs, spiders, lizards, and beetles are just some of the mosquito eating animals as they need it for their own survival. Larvivorous fishes such as guppy fish are also our friends as they eat mosquito larvae for their survival, these larvae could eventually turn into mosquitoes that cause dengue fever. There are also plants that can prevent mosquito from staying near our houses, always remember that nature is always around us.

Dengue Patients Should Never Take Aspirin
One of the unknown facts about dengue fever is that aspirin can intensify the bleeding of a dengue fever patient and increase the fatality of the complications because of its anticoagulant properties. Most of the time, Paracetamol is recommended to patients in relieving his or her fever and sensation of pain. The best way to alleviate the severity of dengue fever is to rest and consume nutritious foods at home. Antibiotics won't work because dengue is a virus and not just bacteria that could be treated by antibiotic medicines.

Those are the above mentioned facts about dengue fever and mosquitoes that we need to keep in mind for us to prevent this disease early. Although mosquitoes are just tiny insects that fly around us, they are capable of taking down our body. It is always important to prevent the spread of these insects before they could bring disaster to our lives.

Top 15 most interesting facts

• 1. Only really transmitted through mosquitoes.
• 2. It has a skin rash similar to the Measles
• 3. Infects 50-100 million people each year
• 4. Any one can get Dengue fever
• 5. The feet and Hands Turn a bright red
• 6. There is no cure
• 7. Not many Die only 1% of people have to be hospitalized
• 8. They don't want you to take Advil like medicine
• 9. Very few cases have been documented in the United States.
• 10.Mothers who are pregnant and give birth while sick with Dengue Fever will share their 
• 11.Sickness with their newborn child.
• 12.This disease has a geographical spread like Malaria and has symptoms similar to the flu.
• 13.It has three stages and each one is worse than the last.
• 14.It infects 50-100 million a year.
• 15.The middle aged has more of a chance of mild symptoms

Mudahnya Bunuh Denggi

Fakta Mengenai Nyamuk Aedes dan Denggi

• Terdapat dua jenis nyamuk Aedes: Aedes aegypti dan Aedes albopictus. Pembawa Denggi yang utama di Malaysia ialah Aedes aegypti.
• Nyamuk Aedes ialah binatang pembunuh manusia nombor satu.
• Virus Denggi datang dari manusia, nyamuk Aedes cuma pembawanya.
• Nyamuk Aedes mampu menjangkitkan Denggi (kepada orang sihat) selepas tujuh hari ia mengigit (mendapat virus dari) pesakit Denggi.
• Simtom Denggi mula wujud 3-7 hari selepas gigitan.
• Nyamuk yang menghisap darah ialah yang betina sahaja. Nyamuk jantan hisap madu :)
• Cuaca panas membuat nyamuk Aedes cepat dewasa (dari 10 hari kepada 5 hari) dan membuat lebih banyak nyamuk betina di lahirkan.
• Nyamuk boleh mengesan dan tertarik kepada karbon dioksida.
• Nyamuk Aedes sukakan warna gelap. Oleh itu pakai pakaian berwarna cerah untuk elakkan gigitan Aedes.
• Terdapat empat jenis virus Denggi (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 dan DENV-4).
• 50-100 juta kes jangkitan Denggi baharu berlaku setiap tahun di seluruh dunia. 500,000 daripadanya adalah kes Denggi berdarah.

Ciri-ciri Nyamuk Aedes

• Berbelang hitam putih pada badan dan kakinya.
• Menggigit di waktu awal pagi dan senja.
• Membiak di dalam air jernih yang bertakung di dalam dan luar rumah.
• Kitaran hidup nyamuk Aedes dari telur hingga menjadi nyamuk dewasa mengambil masa lebih kurang 1 minggu.
• Telurnya boleh hidup tanpa air sehingga 9 bulan.
• Hanya memerlukan satu sudu teh takungan air untuk membiak.
• Jangkahayat seekor nyamuk Aedes betina ialah lebihkurang 1 bulan.
• Setiap kali bertelur, ia akan mengeluarkan 60 hingga 100 biji telur, dan sepanjang hayatnya ia mengeluarkan 1000 biji telur.
• Virus Denggi dalam ibu nyamuk Aedes akan diwarisi oleh anak-anaknya sehingga tujuh generasi!

Tempat Pembiakan Nyamuk Aedes

Di Dalam Rumah:

• Bekas jambangan bunga (vase)
• Kolah mandi
• Dulang perangkap air peti sejuk
• Tangki simpanan air
• Lain-lain bekas menyimpan air
• Tangki pam tandas

Di Luar Rumah:

• Tayar buruk
• Plastik yang boleh menakung air, tin-tin minuman dan bekas makanan polisterin
• Botol atau gelas pecah yang boleh menakung air
• Palong hujan (roof gutter)
• Tempurung kelapa, kulit koko, tunggul pokok pisang, buluh atau daun keladi

Cegah Pembiakan Nyamuk Aedes

Tiada vaksin untuk mencegah Denggi. Satu-satunya cara untuk mencegah Denggi ialah dengan menghalang pembiakan Aedes. Berikut adalah kaedah-kaedah mencegah pembiakan dan menghapuskan Aedes. Tiada Aedes Tiada Denggi.

• Pastikan semua bekas yang boleh menakung air dibuang dengan betul.
• Tutup rapat semua bekas menyimpan air, atau masukkan bahan pembunuh jentik-jentik (Abate) mengikut sukatan yang disyorkan pada label, atau tukar air dan sental bekas menyimpan air sehingga bersih, seminggu sekali.
• Tukar air dan bersihkan bekas bunga setiap minggu.
• Cuci dan sental hingga bersih piring alas pasu bunga untuk menghapuskan telur nyamuk Aedes setiap minggu.
• Periksa palong hujan (roof gutter) seminggu sekali dan pastikan air tidak bertakung.
• Hapuskan nyamuk Aedes dewasa menggunakan semburan racun serangga (aerosol).
• Tutup saluran overflow tangki pam tandas.