Wednesday 7 September 2016

Differentiating Chikungunya from dengue

Differentiating Chikungunya from dengue New Delhi, September 06, 2016: Chikungunya and dengue are both acute febrile illnesses characterized by fever, myalgia and lethargy. Some patients may also have maculopapular rash, nausea, vomiting, and headache. Both the illness are caused by the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Given the rise in the incidence of both the ailments in the city, IMA & HCFI raise awareness about the essential differences between the two, prevention and management. Speaking about the need for prevention Dr. SS Agarwal, National President IMA & Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, President HCFI and President Elect IMA said, “Community participation is vital to prevent and control the spread of diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which includes Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever besides dengue. In community participation, individuals, families and communities are involved in the planning and conduct of local vector control activities. The Government cannot employ enough persons to search every backyard to identify and destroy breeding sites on a consistent basis to prevent this mosquito from breeding. We are committed to raising awareness amongst the medical fraternity as well as the public about the need for prevention and proper management of diseases caused due to the Aedes Aegypti.“ Distinguishing features of chikungunya include potentially debilitating bilateral polyarthralgia and, in some cases, arthritis. Although these signs and symptoms may assist in differentiating dengue and chikungunya, clinicians should include both illnesses in their differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile illness. Dengue should be ruled out in patients with acute febrile illness and suspected of having dengue or Chikungunya. Evaluate patients for the warning signs of severe dengue such as persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, tachycardia, restlessness, hypotension, and narrow pulse pressure. If present, patients should be hospitalized for close monitoring and management. Ways to protect yourself from the bite of the Aedes Aegypti • Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. • Use insect repellent with 20% to 35% of the chemical DEET; more than 35% of the chemical known as diethyltoluamide can irritate skin. • Make sure you apply it to all exposed skin. • Apply insect repellent correctly. Apply sunscreen before repellent, not on top of it. • Apply and let sunscreen dry before using insect repellent. You want the mosquito to land on the repellent, not your sunscreen. • Minimize exposed skin and wear light-colored long sleeved shirts and pants. Mosquitoes are drawn to dark colors, floral patterns and sweet perfumes. • Wear clothing treated with permethrin, a chemical used as an insecticide. • Treat your own clothes, shoes, tents, etc. with a permethrin spray. • Sleep under mosquito nets with windows and doors closed or securely screened if there is no air conditioning. • Make sure there's no standing water outside your lodging because mosquito eggs hatch in water. • Make yourself less appealing to mosquitoes by wearing deodorant and by avoiding drinking quite so much beer

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