RAWALPINDI: Some 22 suspected patients of dengue fever were admitted in Holy Family Hospital while one of them was under treatment with confirmed dengue fever virus, said Dr. Javed Hayat, Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Holy Family Hospital (HFH).
Talking to APP on Wednesday, he said that out of total 22 dengue fever suspected patients, medical tests of 16 patients remained negative while one patient with positive report, was being provided treatment. The report of five patients was still awaited, he added.
To a question, he said maximum arrangements for the treatment of dengue fever patients have been made in Holy Family Hospital. He said all possible preventive measures should be adopted to combat dengue virus.
Dr Javed Hayat said dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands and rash. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles, he added.
Dengue strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed, he added.
The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease, he said.
The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway, he added.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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