Physicians have suggested necessary precautions to avert possibility of dengue fever outbreak in Karachi and other parts of the province after the recent rains.
Talking to APP here Wednesday they clarified that contrary to other water borne infections including malaria, typhoid, gastroenteritis etc caused due to polluted water - dengue fever was consequent to Aedes Egypti (Mosquito) which flourish in clean water.
Professor Ayesha Mehnaz, Incharge - Unit Three, Paediatrics Department - Civil Hospital, Karachi said the ailment can inflict people of any age group, but particularly those with poor immunity. She urged people to develop as a habit maximum intake of water to avoid any possibility of dehydration.
This is extremely and equally essential in case of different health conditions including dengue fever as often sufferers collapse due to severe dehydration, the doctor said. It may be mentioned that health care professionals, since the last out-break of dengue fever, warned of a much more ferocious outbreak of the ailment in city as compared to those experienced in previous years - provided necessary measures were not adopted at all levels.
Dr Hamid Ali of Korangi Hospital stressing that current was the time to prevent re-emergence of the health condition with considerably high rate of mortality and morbidity said people instead of watering their plants in the evening must do so in early hours of the morning.
The doctors mentioned that highest incidence of dengue fever previously reported from Karachi was due to tendency among citizens to store water in containers, often inadequately lid, providing easy breeding grounds to the mosquito known and Aedes Egypti.
Dr Ayesha answering a question with regard to vulnerability of kids to dengue fever said they are equally at risk of getting inflicted with malaria due to stagnant water pools within the vicinity of their homes. Sprinkling these pools with kerosene or motor oil can contain breeding of mosquitoes in general, she said adding that application of mosquito repellent are proven to be equally effective for dengue fever as well as malaria.
She agreed that mustard oil massage does keep away mosquito and that mosquito nets are also a way to protect children as well as people in general against mosquito bite. Health-care professionals advised people not to ignore persistent fever complimented with unexplained and unusual weakness, which after some time may also, result in profuse bleeding from nose or gums.
"No medication is required and people must desist from self medication," Dr Hamid said and also advised general medical practitioners to refer all suspected cases to hospitals with provision for necessary assessment facilities.
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