Dengue in Hyderabad: warning signs and care at home

Every year, dengue cases in Hyderabad rise during and after the monsoon. Most people recover with rest and fluids, but a small number become seriously ill. Knowing the warning signs, and acting on them quickly, makes all the difference.

How dengue spreads

Dengue is a viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which usually bite during the daytime. They breed in small amounts of still, clean water, which is common in city homes and apartment complexes:

• Water in desert coolers and flower-pot trays
• Uncovered water tanks, drums and buckets
• Old tyres, broken containers and blocked terrace drains

Common symptoms

Symptoms usually start a few days after the mosquito bite:

• A sudden high fever
• Severe headache and pain behind the eyes
• Muscle and joint pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• A skin rash

Many other illnesses cause fever during the monsoon, so only a doctor, often with a blood test, can confirm dengue.

Warning signs: go to hospital straight away

These signs often appear around the time the fever starts to come down, usually between the third and seventh day. Go to a hospital immediately, or call 108, if the person has:

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain
• Vomiting that does not stop
• Bleeding from the gums or nose, or blood in vomit or stool
• Fast or difficult breathing
• Unusual drowsiness, confusion or restlessness
• Cold, clammy skin or fainting

Care at home, if the doctor says it is safe

• Rest, and drink plenty of fluids: water, oral rehydration solution (ORS), coconut water, buttermilk or soups
• Use paracetamol for fever and pain, only as advised by the doctor
• Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and similar painkillers unless a doctor has told you to take them
• Do not take antibiotics on your own: dengue is caused by a virus
• Follow the doctor's advice on blood tests, which are used to watch the platelet count
• Keep watching for the warning signs above, especially as the fever falls

Home remedies should never replace medical care or delay going to hospital.

Protecting your family

• Once a week, empty and scrub coolers, flower-pot trays and any container holding water
• Keep water tanks and drums tightly covered
• Use mosquito nets, window screens and repellents, and wear long sleeves during the day
• Ask your apartment association to check terraces, basements and common areas for standing water

Help at home in Hyderabad

For someone with a fever who is stable and has none of the warning signs, a doctor's visit at home can save a tiring trip to a crowded clinic during the monsoon. Read Home visit, clinic or hospital? How to decide for guidance on which option is right. HoMedi is launching across Hyderabad to help families find registered doctors and nurses nearby.