4 tips to avoid mosquito bites and prevent Dengue
Monsoon is back with a bang, and dengue, a disease spread by mosquitoes, is on the rise again these days. There are four different serotypes of this disease known to infect humans. Serotype denotes closely related micro-organisms that are having slightly different antigens among them.
Dengue disease in India
In India, Dengue is transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. While the early symptoms involve high fevers, headaches and severe body pain, if not treated properly, it will turn into a more serious and fatal form known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
The primary concern, when hit with Dengue fever is that the blood platelet count of the patient keeps decreasing. If adequate treatment is not given, it can result in internal bleeding and ultimately death.
How dengue is caused?
Dengue is spread by the females of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. They can be found both inside and outside homes and are mostly active during the hours after sunrise and before sunset.
These mosquitoes do not breed in any water bodies like creeks, pools or swamps, but instead lay their eggs in containers holding water. They rarely fly away from their breeding site, which is why one shouldn’t keep water-filled containers inside and outside homes unattended and uncovered.
4 Tips to Avoiding Mosquito Bites
Personal hygiene and environmental management are the only ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and biting you. Here are some useful tips on how to escape from mosquito bites.
Prevent Breeding Sites: Mosquitoes breed in standing waters that are left in the open, like water filled containers, flower pots, unused tires, air coolers etc. Ensure that there are no open water filled containers lying around or in the house. If you are unable to drain water of a vessel, pour a few drops of oil into it. The oil will act as a cover on the water surface cutting of the oxygen flow. This will disable the mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
Protection at peak times: According to studies, the Aedes mosquito is most active during the late day and early evening. Therefore, the probability of getting bitten is more during the time period between 11 am and 4 pm. Take necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites during this time frame. Whether you are at home, office or school, keep your premises clean and cover yourself suitably to deny a landing site for mosquitoes.
Avoid Mosquito Bites: Wear clothing that covers most of your hands and legs. Ensure that children wear light-colored clothing that covers their bodies suitably and do not let them near waterlogged bushes or places where you think mosquitoes might be breeding. Use mosquito nets at night and also install mosquito meshes on doors and windows. If there are infants in the house, use cradles and carriers that carry a mosquito net.
Use Mosquito Repellents: There are loads of mosquito repellents available in the market these days. Choose those that are effective and wouldn’t give you any side effects. Electronic repellents are available but the fumes given out by them might not agree with some people and children. There are repellent creams available in the market, both chemical and plant based. When using skin cream, apply only a small amount and then reapply after a few hours as they might have adverse reactions if used in larger concentrations. The best and safest way is to use natural substances like neem leaves. Many households in India burn neem leaves that help keep mosquitoes away.
