Dengue Fever: do’s and dont’s

Do’s:

1. Rest: Get plenty of rest to help your body recover.
2. Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of fluids, even if you’re in bed. Hydration is crucial.
3. Take Fever Medicine: Use simple fever medicine like paracetamol or acetaminophen.
4. Consult a Doctor: Seek medical help if you experience bleeding or bruising (from gums, nose, urine, or stool).
5. Prevent Mosquito Bites: Protect yourself to avoid infecting others. Use mosquito repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing, and use mosquito nets while sleeping.
6. Isolate Yourself: Isolate and let your family monitor you closely.
7. Eliminate Stagnant Water: Regularly check and remove stagnant water in your surroundings to prevent Aedes mosquito breeding.
8. Drain Excess Water: Ensure plant pot plates don’t accumulate excess water.
9. Secure Windows and Doors: Use wire mesh on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
10. Community Awareness: Healthy individuals should also prevent mosquito bites in Dengue-prone areas.
    Dont’s:
11. Avoid Self-Treatment: Do not self-medicate or consult unqualified individuals.
12. Medication Caution: Avoid Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Naproxen sodium, as they may increase bleeding risk.
13. Limit Physical Activity: Avoid strenuous physical activities.
14. Oral Care: If you have bleeding gums, use a mouthwash instead of brushing your teeth.
15. Prevent Breeding Sites: Ensure materials outside your house don’t collect water during the rainy season.
16. Mosquito Timing: Avoid sitting outside during early mornings and late evenings when Dengue-causing mosquitoes are active.
17. Outbreak Areas: Refrain from visiting areas with Dengue outbreaks.
18. Mosquito Protection: When visiting a Dengue patient, take measures to avoid mosquito bites.
19. Steroids: Do not use steroids without a prescription; they are not recommended for uncomplicated cases.
20. Platelet Transfusion Caution: Avoid unnecessary platelet transfusions. Prophylactic platelet transfusion is not recommended.
21. Fogging: Don’t rely solely on fogging, as it has side effects and doesn’t eliminate mosquito eggs and larvae.
22. Dengue RDT: Be cautious with Dengue Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT); they can produce false positives. Confirm positive cases in sentinel site hospitals (Naga Hospital Kohima and Dimapur District Hospital). GOI & ICMR do not recommend the use of RDT for Dengue diagnosis.
    Issued in the interest of public health by NCVBDC
    Directorate of Health &Family Welfare
    Kohima: Nagaland