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Dr Rommel Tickoo

Senior consultant, internal medicine, Max Hospital

Nov 02, 2012 | Closed

Living It Up: How to stay safe from dengue?

How to stay safe from dengue? Dr Rommel Tickoo will answer all your questions & queries regarding the dengue fever.

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Dr Tickoo Hi What is your opinion on desi medicine on dengue. Is water threpy the only treatment? Asked by: rajinder
I have no experience with desi medicines so i can't comment on that. Water therapy is the most important thing apart from other supportive treatment. If the platelet count drops to dangerous levels we have to transfuse platelets or if bleeding happens we have to transfuse blood. We also use a medicine called Anti D in case the platelet count doesn't get better after 5 to 7 days which is a rare thing to happen.
I just read that all the situations where platelet count drops down need not necessarily be dengue. How do we differentiate? Asked by: sakuntala
It depends on the clinical picture and associated medical problems. There are many causes for a drop in platelet count. Only doctors can figure out what could be the cause and for a layman it's difficult.
After the bite how long does it take for dengue to manifest. any preventive medical care available Asked by: venky
About 3 to 7 days. No preventive medicine is available.
How long does it take for dengue to manifest after the bite> is any precautionary medication available Asked by: venky
On average about 3 to 7 days though it can range upto 14 days. There is no specific medication for Dengue.
I read somewhere that dropping platelet count does not always indicate dengue. How do we differentiate? Asked by: sakuntala
Yes that's true. If there is no history of fever and the history is not acute it could be something else. In Dengue there is preceding history of fever and the platelet count gets better on its own after 3 to 5 days. Many other viruses can also lead to a transient fall in platelet count.
Would a normal blood test suffice to check wether one has contracted dengu??? Asked by: amit
There are 2 tests that we normally do for dengue. one is the Dengue NS 1 antigen test which is done in the first five days and can be positive on day 1 also. The second test is the Dengue Serology test which comes positive after 5-7 days. The normal CBC test done initially might not give the correct picture since the platelet count usually falls after 3 to 5 days.
How to look for Dengue symptoms especially in kids around 2-3 years of age? Asked by: Ruchin
High grade fever, irritability, problems with feeding, vomiting are the symptoms one should look at.
Dear Sir, I read in a Magazine that consuming papaya leaf juice will cure dengue . Is that true? Kindly advice us. Asked by: Venkatesh
Well, this is a practice in China and many other countries and it does seem to help.I have seen patients who have consumed it and according to them too it helps.
sir, what is the blood count level untill, patient dont need to be hospitalized, and how to recover Blood count,and specially when the patient is Heptatis B positve Asked by: Saurabh Pande
The platelet count usually falls after the fever settles. One needs admission to a hospital only if the Platelet count falls below 50,000 or if there is dehydration, low blood pressure, altered mental state or bleeding.
do we have prophylactic treatment for dengue Asked by: shakeeb
No there is no prophylaxis for dengue. Trials for a vaccine are going on and we may have a vaccine against dengue in future.
what are the precaustions to be taken so that we do not catch dengu. As heard that dengu is caused by Mosquito...it bites in the morning....this mosquito is of fresh water.... Asked by: Akash Goyal
We should not have stagnant water around our house, the coolers, flower pots, water tanks should be covered. Apart from that fumigation in your area would help in eliminating the habitat of these mosquitoes.
Namaskar Marah! Q) What are the home remedies for dengue and what precautions should be taken..? Asked by: Arun
Once it is diagnosed one should have lot of water, take paracetamol for fever and get your blood test done as and when required.One should also avoid heavy food and take rest. Precautions are closing the doors and windows of your house during the day time as its a day biter, use sprays, aerosols, mosquito nets and cover your body.
what are the main reasons why dengue will come and basic premedies required ? Asked by: james
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by a mosquito bite. The remedy is to reduce the no of mosquitoes and take precautions like using insect repellant creams, sprays, covering your body with clothes and not having stagnant water outside your house.