According to a detailed report prepared by the National Institute of Health (NIH), from January 1 to December 5, 2022, there were 76,210 dengue virus cases reported nationwide, with 136 deaths.
Sindh remains the most infected province, with 22,495 cases of the mosquito-borne disease and 61 deaths.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 22,799 dengue virus cases with 18 deaths, while Punjab had 18,797 cases with 45 deaths.
Islamabad reported 5,392 dengue virus cases and six deaths. Balochistan reported 5,283 dengue cases, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported 1,444 dengue cases.
According to sources, no deaths have been reported in Balochistan or Azad Jammu and Kashmir this year.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has spread rapidly around the world in recent years. Female mosquitos, primarily Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Aedes albopictus, transmit dengue virus.
SYMPTOMS
When a high fever (40°C/104°F) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms during the febrile phase, dengue should be suspected:
- excruciating headache
- discomfort behind the eyes
- joint and muscle aches
- nausea
- vomiting
- glandular swelling
- rash.
TREATMENT
Dengue fever has no specific treatment. To control the symptoms of muscle aches and pains and fever, fever reducers and pain relievers can be taken.
Acetaminophen or paracetamol are the most effective treatments for these symptoms.
Ibuprofen and aspirin are examples of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These anti-inflammatory medications thin the blood, and in a disease with a high risk of haemorrhage, blood thinners may worsen the prognosis.
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