KARACHI, Oct 13: The Sindh Health Department has identified the causes, treatment and preventive measures asking general public to adhere to the advisory to deal with the cases of dengue fever.

The advisory, issued by the health secretary, states that dengue fever is caused by a specific type of mosquitoes that bites one only during daytime, especially around the time of sunrise and sunset. The breading of such mosquitoes takes place only in clean water containers, like drums, buckets etc.

With regard to the signs and symptoms, the advisory states that a suspected dengue patient would initially feel flu-like symptoms and suffer high-grade fever, frontal headache, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes later on.

In severe cases, bleeding from mouth, nose and other parts of the body may occur.

As for the treatment, it states that a VHF patient should be rushed to the nearest health care centre immediately after showing the symptoms. If not possible, one must contact a health worker of the area for making such arrangement as provision of immediate treatment may save the life of such a patient.

Besides following these measures, the following precautions are advisable: Water containers, including tanks, drums, buckets etc., should invariably be kept covered; flowerbeds and pots should be kept dry, i.e. no amount of water should be left in them; anti-mosquitoes coils and mats should be used, especially at sunset and sunrise time; proper clothing to ensure covering whole body should be ensured, especially at sunrise and sunset time; mosquito repellent lotions should be used on the exposed parts of the body; mosquitoes nets should be used while sleeping indoor or outdoor; and fly-proof nets should be used to prevent movement of mosquitoes into the house from open doors and windows.—PPI