1.
What is dengue?
It is a disease caused by a virus of the genus flavivirus.
2.
How can a person become infected?
If bitten by a female Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito, that is infected with a virus
3.
What are the signs and symptoms?
High continuous fever lasting for 2-7 days, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, body weakness, bleeding tendencies from nose and gums, persistent red spots on the face, extremities and trunks
4.
What are the danger signs of dengue?
Spontaneous bleeding, persistent vomiting, cold, clammy skin, listlessness, weak, rapid pulse, difficulty of breathing
5.
What is the drug/treatment for dengue?
There is no vaccine yet against dengue. Do not give aspirin for fever. Give sufficient amount of water or rehydrate a dengue suspect. If fever or symptoms persist for two or more days, bring the patient to the nearest hospital.
6.
How can we prevent dengue?
Destroy or eliminate breeding containers, such as bottles, drums and used tires. Clean clogged gutters. Turn flower vases upside down every seven days.
7.
Can fogging prevent dengue?
Fogging is used to kill adult mosquitoes infected with the virus to immediately stop transmission. It is recommended as a preventive measure as it will be very costly to do fogging every seven days. It will not kill the larvae of the mosquitoes that become adults in seven to eight days.
Source: Department of Health
