DENGUE FEVER : A WORD OF CAUTION

CAUSE & EFFECT OF THE DISEASE

The fever is caused by a mosquito bite. The Mosquito acts as a carrier of the Dengue Virus. The virus's main affect is on the PLATELET production. Normally the platelets in our body lasts for about 4 days and the body replenishes them when required. This virus DESTROYS THE BODY's CAPACITY TO PRODUCE NEW PLATELETS (during the period it is effective). The PLATELET count for a normal person varies from 1.5 Lakh - 2.5 Lakh per unit volume. On getting infected the patients PLATELET COUNT STARTS FALLING. A PLATELET count BELOW 1.O Lakh /volume is ALARMING - immediate medical attention is required. A PLATELET count BELOW 50K is FATAL.

Note : A fall in platelet count PREVENTS FORMATION OF CLOTS - and this leads to HAEMORRAGE - which results into both INTERNAL & EXTERNAL BLEEDING - once bleeding starts the situation is almost IRRECOVERABLE.

SYMPTOMS

UNABATED FEVER is the most prominent symptom. Fever may also be accompanied with SHIVERING / BODY ACHE / ACHE IN THE EYES. However it must be noted that these symptoms MAY OR MAYNOT MANIFEST TILL VERY LATE. Appearence of RASHES ON THE BODY is a definitive symptom - but again IT MAY NOT MANIFEST TILL VERY LATE. The MOST RELIABLE symptom is A FALL IN THE PLATELET COUNT.

DETECTION

The most reliable method of detection is to MEASURE THE PLATELET COUNT EVENING & MORNING - PLATELET COUNT should be measured TWICE A DAY - since if it is Dengue then the PLATELET COUNT WILL FALL WITHIN 7-8 HRS. This fall may start at anytime during the course of infection and therefore keep on measuring the PLATELET count from the onset of the fever till it subsides.

NOTE : Please measure the PLATELET even if fever of any type occurs - do not wait to verify if it is Dengue since you can never be sure. Also do not BELEIVE ANY DOCTOR IF HE SAYS NOT TO TAKE PLATELET COUNT DAILY - in one case the Doctor at Navin Upchar delayed sampling of Platelet count which ultimately led to hemorrhage.