Throughout human history, pandemics remained here. No matter if it was dengue or recently a coronavirus pandemic, these viruses have taken a toll on our health and resources.
These tiny organisms that get transmitted from one individual to another can take several thousand human lives and add a burden on public health. Dengue is one such example.
What is Dengue?
Dengue is an important viral borne illness that is caused by the dengue virus. This virus spreads from one individual to another resulting. Dengue virus transmits through the bite of a mosquito known as Aedes aegypti. These black striped tiny mosquitoes can give a tough time to the human population.
Common Myths About Dengue
When my brother was diagnosed with the dengue virus after getting his reports for the ns1 antigen test in Lahore, I remember how terrible the experience was. Seeing more and more people getting affected with conditions like dengue can be something to worry about. However, all I know is that the condition is poorly understood. There are many myths and misconceptions associated with the disease.
Curious to know about the facts behind dengue, don’t worry we are here for you. Here is the answer to all your concerns regarding dengue.
1- All mosquitoes can cause dengue
No, only Aedes aegypti is the mosquito that transmits dengue.
The mosquito is a tiny creature that has been notorious. Even if we talk about diseases like malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses, we have all the reasons to hate mosquitoes. Though all mosquitoes appear to be the same from the naked eye, not all mosquitoes are the same. There are more than 4 thousand types of mosquitoes and mosquitoes from Aedes aegypti species are known to transmit the dengue virus.
2- Mosquito causes the dengue
Just like the previous one, this is also a common myth about dengue.
Yes, when it comes to dengue fever, it is important to know that it’s the dengue virus that causes the disease, not the mosquito. Mosquitoes only carried this dengue virus from one individual to another via a bite. When a mosquito bites an infected individual it takes in the dengue virus through the blood meal and then transfers it to an unaffected individual. So, yes mosquitoes are the carrier, not the causative individual.
3- Dengue fever – it’s just a fever
By hearing the word dengue fever, many people perceive it to be an ordinary fever. Little did they know about the severity and complications associated with the disease.
Dengue fever is not your ordinary fever and can come with severe consequences. Yes, you may need to think about the joint pain and the internal hemorrhages associated with it. The condition can be quite pathetic and can come with severe consequences. In severe cases, death is the ultimate penalty for diseases like dengue.
4- You can use papaya to treat dengue
Well, this is next on the list of common dengue myths.
Papaya use is a common household remedy for the management of dengue symptoms. Though the use of papaya can help with the management of dengue symptoms, however, by no means it is a treatment option for dengue. It supports the declining platelet count among the sufferers. This is true that there are scientific studies that support the therapeutic potential of papaya leaves but still, it doesn’t come as a dengue treatment option.
5- If you get dengue once, you are not going to have it again
Many people believe that if you get infected with the dengue virus once, then it kills your chances of suffering from the disease again. However, this is certainly not possible.
One time infection with dengue virus is not the reason. This is because there is not a single type of dengue virus, There are 5 different types of dengue viruses that are known to cause the fever. These viruses belong to the RNA family and change their genetic material easily. This is the reason that scientists haven’t come up with any dengue vaccine that is effective against all 5 dengue virus strains. So, if you get affected with the dengue virus once then you can get it again, with a different kind of dengue virus.
6- Dengue only affects older ones and the children
Dengue fever is a common condition that can affect people of all ages and gender. There is no exception of age here. The only way it differentiates the indication of dengue fever among the population is that some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others and this increases their likelihood of suffering from dengue virus. So, if you are young then it doesn’t put you on an exception for the dengue virus.
Bottom Line!
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can result in symptoms from mild flu to severe hemorrhages. Mosquito bites are potentially responsible for the disease causation. So, if you want to keep the dengue virus at bay, make sure to control the mosquito population in your vicinity to hinder the spread of the dengue virus.