Author:
Louise Ward
Date Of Creation:
11 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness and often leads to symptoms such as high fever, heat, and flu-like signs. It is considered an acute parasitic infection and can be fatal if not treated promptly. It is caused by the malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum. Each year there are about 200 million cases of patients infected with dengue fever worldwide. This includes about 584,000 deaths, mostly among children under 5 years old in sub-Saharan Africa. According to reports in the United States, there are about 1,500-2,000 dengue cases per year. If you are traveling in a country with a high prevalence of infection, you can reduce your risk by taking medicine. To prevent dengue fever, you should be prepared to minimize the bite of mosquitoes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Take Preventive Medicine
Determine if you are in an area at risk of disease. If you are traveling to a country with a high rate of dengue fever, it is important to be well prepared. This disease can be prevented by taking the correct medication right before, during, and after exposure to toxic mosquitoes. The following areas are at high risk of infection:- Africa
- Central and South America
- Parts of Caribbean Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific
Make an appointment with your doctor. If you intend to travel to one of the above places, make an appointment to see your doctor about 6 weeks before your trip.- Plan a trip early so you can take your preventive medicine before you start your travel itinerary.
- As an alternative to seeing your own doctor, you can make an appointment at a travel clinic in your area.
Take prescription preventative pills. Talk to your doctor about where you are going. They will provide you with the most effective prescription that can prevent dengue in that area.- These drugs include chloroquine phosphate, quinine sulfate, or tetracycline. Depending on where you are going, these drugs will have different uses. Therefore, it is important that you talk with your doctor about each area you will be traveling on.
- Currently, dengue fever has no vaccine. Instead, your doctor will prescribe you like the medicine used to treat the disease. You can use them the entire time you are in an area at risk of infection.
- Be sure to talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking and your current health conditions. These can have a significant impact on the dengue vaccine you will receive. For example, do not take dengue medicine if you are pregnant. People with mental disorders are also not allowed to take this medication.
- The travel department's doctor or medical staff should also check to see if there is another disease that is potentially infectious.
Take prescription medications. Keep in mind that you must adhere to the strict and precise prescription of prescription medications. Medicines for dengue are only really effective when taken as directed.
- You should start taking several pills at least two weeks before your trip. Others can be taken 1 to 2 days in advance. With some medications, you can take it all the time once a day, while others can be divided into several days.
- If you are only allowed to take one dengue vaccine in a day, split it up at the same time each day.
- Under the guidance of your doctor, keep taking the medicine during your travel. In many cases, once you have left an area where there is a high risk of disease, you should also take the medicine for a week or more. If not, you may still increase your chances of getting infected.
- Always follow your doctor's advice to prevent harm caused by side effects of medications. For example, some dengue pills (doxycycline) can cause your skin to become dull. In this case, don't forget to use sunscreen to protect your skin.
- Resistance is also a matter of concern. The disease tends to be resistant if people overuse the drug, or if they don't take the full dose. Therefore, do not forget to take the full dosage prescribed on the prescription.
Method 2 of 3: Prevent Mosquito Bites
Choose your accommodation carefully. When planning your upcoming trip, choose an accommodation with as few mosquitoes as possible. If possible, stay in a well-shielded area or a room with air conditioning.
- Usually, the best area to stay overnight is in a cool place and away from standing water. Because this is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Sources with standing water, such as a flowing lake or stream, are often home to many mosquitoes.
Use nets (mosquito nets). Thin, light, and thick knit nets are perfect for keeping mosquitoes out of your tent or bed at night. Hang curtains over your sleeping area each night before going to bed. You can also use them to cover any windows or doors.
- You may not be able to find one while traveling, so buy one before you start your trip.
- Dress in the mosquito net in the morning.
- Make sure to check the curtain regularly to avoid it being torn or punctured. Ideally you should bring an extra curtain as a backup.
- Buy mosquito nets impregnated with permethrin for the best protection.
Close windows and doors. If possible, keep doors and windows tightly closed while in the room.
- People who sleep outside and are exposed to the outdoors at night are at an increased risk of developing dengue fever.
- You don't have to close all the doors if you're in a hot, hot area. Whether you close or open the door, don't forget to hook the mosquito net on the bed for added protection.
Wear long sleeves and pants. You can reduce the number of mosquito bites if you wear long sleeves and pants while going out or walking throughout the day.
- Carry lightweight yet quality fabric clothing as they not only help your body breathe, but also protect you from mosquito bites.
Use mosquito spray. Choose the spray that will work best in the area you travel. For more advice, consult your doctor about your options. If you have children with you, consult your pediatrician about which is durable and safe for your child.
- In most areas with dengue fever outbreaks, DEET is a common ingredient in mosquito repellent or anti-mosquito products. DEET is the abbreviation of the compound N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, or simply diethyltoluamide. This compound comes in different concentrations, from 4% to 100%. However, concentrations above 50% will not give you the desired mosquito repellent effect. For best results, spray on clothes and the room you're in.
- Combine insecticides with permethrin-soaked clothing and protective gear for the best protection.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will give you detailed instructions on how to use DEET. Please consult carefully before using the product. Misuse can lead to health problems.
If possible, stay indoors during dusk and dawn. Try to plan activities in a safe area between dusk and dawn. The reason is that the mosquitoes that cause dengue are often active at night. advertisement
Method 3 of 3: Treatment of Dengue
See a doctor if you have signs of illness. If you feel unwell after a trip or are concerned that you might have dengue fever, see your doctor immediately. Of course, it should be treated as soon as possible. Although the early symptoms of this disease are not obvious, they may also include the following signs:
- High fever
- Hot cold shiver
- Sweating a lot
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Treatment. Your doctor will prescribe medications depending on where you are infected. Other factors, such as pregnancy, are equally important. Treatment here is to adhere to the right dose of medication over a long period of time. Medications to treat dengue include:
- Chloroquine phosphate is the first drug product line to be used for the prevention or treatment of dengue fever except for possible resistance. This is a very common problem, so your doctor may prescribe additional medications for you.
- Your doctor will also advise you to use quinine sulfate and tetracyclin in areas that are resistant to high chloroquine phosphate content. Or you may also be prescribed with the combination drug atovaquone-proguanil and mefloquine.
- Sometimes, intravenous medication is required when you have an illness. If you have a malaria parasite infection, IV quinidine and doxycycline are great choices.
- If the hemorrhagic fever is caused by the P. vivax or P. ovale parasites, your doctor may prescribe the malaria drug primaquine phosphate for you within two weeks.
- Of course, taking the precaution early is the best way to protect yourself before setting foot in a high-risk area. If your doctor knows that you are going to travel in a chloroquine resistant area, they will prescribe you the malaria drug mefloquine.
Continue monitoring your health after travel. See a doctor right away if you experience flu-like symptoms as this could be a sign of dengue fever. Even if you return briefly, you are likely to be infected.
- Most dengue symptoms will show up within two weeks of getting sick. However, in some cases, symptoms may appear later. Malaria parasites can stay dormant in your body for weeks, months, or even more than a year.
Advice
- Before you start traveling somewhere, consult with your doctor about the best medicine to prevent dengue. They will recommend the right medication for you. Depending on where you plan to go, they will customize the appropriate treatment. Your doctor will also consider many other factors that may affect your treatment regimen. The tourist clinic would be an ideal place for more information and advice.
- See your doctor early if you are planning a long trip. You should take the pill a few weeks before you arrive at your destination.
Warning
- Buy medicine to prevent dengue before going abroad. In some countries where there is a high risk of infection, some people may sell counterfeit or substandard drugs to tourists.
