Dengue is an illness transmitted by an infected  Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The condition is usually short lived but can sometimes be severe or fatal. This mosquito borne disease along with zika and  chikungunya  can be severe or even fatal during pregnancy. It can result in stillbirth, low birth weight or premature baby.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever ?

Symptoms  include the following :

• high fever
• severe headache
• eye pain often with movement and behind the eyes
• joint pain
• muscle and bone pain
• rash
• bleeding often mild from the nose or gums

Some people develop a more severe illness known as  dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. With this,  victim gets  worse after the fever declines. They may have persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing.

If you’re pregnant and think you have symptoms of dengue, call your doctor immediately.

How is dengue fever treated ?

There is no medicine for this condition. However your doctor will suggest treating this condition with other simple ways.

• get enough rest
• drinks lots of water to avoid dehydration
• take acetaminophen to relive fever and pain . Do not taks NSAIDS  like ibuprofen and aspirin.

If you feel worse in the next 24 hours after fever subsides and experience symptoms such as vomiting and severe abdominal pain, go to the ER right away.

How to protect yourself from dengue ?

There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. When traveling to areas with high incidence , take the following steps to avoid being infected .

• use insect repellents with up to 50% DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus during pregnancy.
• wear loose cotton clothing that covers your arms and legs
• stay in places with air conditioning or that have screen on windows and doors