Dengue Cases in Lucknow 2024: As mosquito-borne diseases continue to wreak havoc on India, Lucknow has reported 31 fresh cases of dengue in the last 24 hours. Since January this year, 460 cases of dengue have been reported in Lucknow, as per data shared by the chief medical officer’s office on Sunday.
On Saturday, 39 fresh cases of dengue were reported in the city. Last week, Lucknow reported its first official death due to dengue. The majority of dengue cases have been reported in August and September this year. Lucknow officially recorded its first dengue death this season. This has sparked concern among officials and residents. An 18-year-old resident of Lucknow city, Shreyansh Srivastava reportedly died while receiving treatment for dengue in a hospital.
Earlier this week, at least three dozen people in the state capital have reported positive for dengue, bringing the total number of cases to 284 this year. The majority of cases have been reported in August and September.
Ritu Srivastava, the district malaria officer, reported that the dengue cases emerged from various areas of the district, including Gosaiganj, Alambagh, Indiranagar, pockets in Gomtinagar Extension, Gossainganj, Mall and Chinhut.
What is dengue?
Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector for the dengue virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year.
While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death, as per WHO.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever: What to Watch Out For
Most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in 1–2 weeks. Rarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death. According to WHO, some of the common symptoms of dengue include:
- high fever (40°C/104°F)
- severe headache
- pain behind the eyes
- muscle and joint pains
- nausea
- vomiting
- swollen glands
- rash.
Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue.
Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away:
- severe abdominal pain
- persistent vomiting
- rapid breathing
- bleeding gums or nose
- fatigue
- restlessness
- blood in vomit or stool
- being very thirsty
- pale and cold skin
- feeling weak.
Treatment and Care for Dengue Patients in Lucknow
Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue and the doctors usually focus on treating pain symptoms. Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding.
For people with severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed, WHO stated.
Dengue Prevention Tips for Lucknow Residents
According to WHO, the mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day.
Lower the risk of getting dengue by protecting yourself from mosquito bites by using:
- clothes that cover as much of your body as possible;
- mosquito nets if sleeping during the day, ideally nets sprayed with insect repellent;
- window screens;
- mosquito repellents (containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535); and
- coils and vaporizers.
Mosquito breeding can be prevented by:
- preventing mosquitoes from accessing egg-laying habitats by environmental management and modification;
- disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats that can hold water;
- covering, emptying and cleaning domestic water storage containers on a weekly basis;
- applying appropriate insecticides to outdoor water storage containers.