Suspected Dengue Fever Causing Alarm

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What Ails You

Saturday, 03 September 2011 02:30

By Aisha Caleb

Antigua St John's - An increase in the number of reported cases of dengue fever, a flu-like viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes, is causing some alarm across Antigua as, according to information gleaned, more than 15 cases have been reported for 2011.

According to Dr Patrick Matthews physiotherapist of NSA, while it is oftentimes quite difficult to diagnose dengue fever early, since it carries symptoms of the common flu, several factors may have lead to its current prevalence

He explained, “Once there is a lot of rain, mosquitoes have the opportunity to breed".

Dr Simon of the NSA clinic has writen and spoken about it, in his article: Dengue Prevention Needs Some Attention

The difference is that the dengue mosquito, the Aedes Aegypti, is one that tends to also bite you in the day. So the people who are working during the daytime hours tend to get bit by it a lot more that they think.”

The physician, who specializes in addiction and family medicin, said the symptoms mimic the flu, and the fever tends to be associated with intense pain and achy joints, which it why it has been nicknamed “the bone-break fever”. Patients therefore complain of severe pain in the bones and joints, and assume it is dengue fever.
 

While unable to reach Marketing and Communications Manager at the Mount St John Medical Center (MSJMC) Salma Crump, a health care provider at the institution spoke to Caribarena.com anonymously. She explained that it is sadly not surprising that there is an influx of patients to the hospital and private doctors, as, very often, most people are not taught or do not take note of the many precautionary measures publicized as to how to treat stagnant water after a storm.

“Quite often, someone will come on the radio or airwaves to explain that yes, you throw oil in the water, or keep the vats covered to eliminate excessive breeding, and a number of other precautionary measures," she said. "But in cases where these warnings are not heeded, the preponderance of mosquito breeding and ultimately carrying and spreading the dengue fever increases.”

This health practitioner concurred that the symptoms may imitate the flu in the initial stages, and it is therefore up to people to be aware of their body’s unique reaction to what may be perceived as the flu. “We know that there are some flus that come with their own bouts of pain.


However, the intensity of the pain is quite noticeable and therefore that person should seek medical attention," she said. "But we advise that people utilize the services provided at the community clinics.

The doctors and nurses there will be able to identify some of the cases, whether it’s a regular flu or the dengue fever, and this will lessen the crowd at the hospital where people may thinks it’s the fever, when it's just a flu. It will save time for both the patient and the doctors.”

Dengue fever affects 50 to 100 million people on an annual basis worldwide, and occurs mostly in the tropics. There is no specific treatment for it.

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