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Urdu Version
Dengue Infection Does Not Spread From Person to Person
“Dengue infection does not spread from person
to person. However, health workers should take contact precautions
while taking care of these patients and must use gloves to avoid
acquisition of any concomitant infection such as Hepatitis B and
C,” stated Dr Afia Zafar, Associate professor and Head Section
of Microbiology at Aga Khan University.
She was addressing a seminar on “Dengue Fever:
What Every Family Physician Must Know” organised by Aga Khan
University’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology in collaboration
with the Department of Medicine as part of Continuing Medical Education
for general practitioners on October 19.
Dr Afia Zafar added that the disease transmission
is only due to mosquito bite. Clinically suspected cases or even
laboratory proven patients do not require isolation room or ward.
Masks and aprons are not required during nursing or examination
of infected patients.
Speaking on ‘Dengue Infection in Children,’
Dr Anita Zaidi, Associate Professor and specialist Paediatric Infectious
Diseases, AKU, said that Dengue fever is usually a mild disease
but if appropriate care is not taken, serious complications can
develop in some children. Pointing out that Dengue fever has become
epidemic in Karachi following the monsoons for the last two years,
she stressed that during the epidemic season, any child who has
fever for more than two days, without a runny nose, and associated
with rash on the face and body should be suspected for dengue fever.
She informed the health care practitioners that
as a first step, a complete blood count should be done on the third
day of illness. Development of swelling of the face or hands and
feet, or bleeding from anywhere are signs that the infection is
becoming serious and the child needs urgent attention and hospitalisation.
Because dengue fever can be confused with malaria and typhoid, malarial
smear and blood culture are also needed. While antibiotics have
no role in curing dengue fever, the child can make full recovery
if he/she is kept hydrated. “Prevention is only possible by
control of the mosquito,” She stated.
Dr M. Aslam Khan, Assistant Professor and Consultant
Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, said that the Dengue
infection manifests as fever with associated headache, muscle and
joint pain, nausea/vomiting and rash. Fever lasts 5-6 days and terminates
abruptly while fatigue lasts for several days after infection.
Dr Erum Khan, Assistant Professor, Pathology and
Microbiology, informed the audience that the first Dengue virus
infection in Pakistan was reported in 1994. Selected samples of
dengue virus out break in 2005 were sent from Aga Khan University,
for serotyping and sequence analysis to Virology Lab of Health Protection
Agency at UK. Results have revealed that the current outbreak is
due to a different serotype which suggests that there is an increased
risk of second more severe form of infection.
Dr Omrana Pasha, Assistant Professor, Community
Health Sciences and Family Medicine, discussed the prevention and
control of Dengue Fever. “Places which are crowded during
the day, such as schools and hospitals, provide a venue where an
Aedes aegypti mosquito can bite an infected person and subsequently,
bite many other people gathered there, causing the infection to
spread,” she pointed out. To facilitate prevention and control
of the outbreak, Dr Pasha recommended a public information campaign,
stressing the mode of transmission, personal protective measures
like the use of repellant substances and the reduction of sources
of mosquito breeding around the home and in neighbourhoods.
As a part of its social responsibility and commitment
to the advancement of health research and education, AKU regularly
holds seminars, symposiums and events to raise awareness about health
and education related issues which are of national importance and
interest.
Urdu Version
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