Think dengue is only a monsoon illness? Mumbai docs bust myths about the disease

According to the World Health Organization WHO about half of the worlds population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100 400 million infections occurring each year In India as per data from the National Centre for VectorBorne Disease Control NCVBDC under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW dengue cases have increased from 157 lakh in 2019 to 233 lakh in 2024While the monsoon season is popularly believed to exacerbate dengue and lead to a rise in cases it is a myth that the disease only affects people when it rains As Mumbai is experiencing intense heat with untimely rains citybased experts warn that dengue can be prevalent even during summersOn National Dengue Day 2025 which is observed annually in India on May 16 midday speaks to Dr Paritosh Baghel senior consultant Internal Medicine at S L Raheja Hospital in Mahim Dr Manish Pendse Senior consultant physician amp diabetologist at Medicover Hospitals in Navi Mumbai and Dr Divya Gopal consultant Internal Medicine at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Girgaon They not only highlight the risk factors of the disease but also bust common myths around itWhile cases of dengue rise in the monsoon is it only a monsoon diseaseBaghelDengue infection is not limited to monsoons It can also occur in summer and wherever there is presence of Aedes mosquito High humidity and temperatures lead to increased risk of mosquitoborne diseasesPendseDengue is a common occurrence during monsoon as there is water stagnation near the house So the stagnated water in the pots cans vessels and tyres is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes However dengue can occur in summer too especially in areas where water is stored in open containers or where hygiene is poor The Aedes mosquito which spreads dengue can breed even in small amounts of water like in flowerpots coolersWhat are some risk factors of dengue during the summer seasonBaghelIncreased temperatures with higher humidity help mosquitoes survive better In summers clothing can be a risk factor for the disease Due to heat people may wear short clothes exposing their body to mosquito bites To beat the heat many people sit near water bodies or use air coolers with stagnant water inside both of which can create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes increasing the risk of mosquitoborne illnessesPendsePoor sanitation and uncovered water sources can raise onersquos chances of suffering from dengue Summer is also vacation time so when you travel to areas where dengue cases are high you can be at a greater risk of dengue due to prevalence of diseasecausing mosquitoesWhat are some other common myths about dengueGopalSome common myths and facts related to dengue areMyth 1Dengue is contagious and spreads person to personFactDengue does not spread persontoperson It spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquito particularly Aedes aegyptiMyth 2Dirty or stagnated water alone can give rise to denguecausing mosquitoesFactAedes mosquitoes can reproduce in clean still water including flowerpots water coolers and open containers Its not only dirty water that is a risk factorMyth 3Once yoursquove had dengue yoursquore immune for lifeFactThere are four different dengue virus strains DENV1 to DENV4 Infection with one strain gives lifelong immunity to that strain but not to the others A second infection with a different strain can actually be more severeMyth 4 High fever is the sole sign of dengueFactThough high fever is prevalent it is associated with severe headache pain in joints and muscles skin rash pain behind the eyes and low platelet count In extreme cases dengue leads to bleeding and organ damage dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndromePendseSome other common myths about dengue areMyth 1Dengue mosquitoes bite during nighttime onlyFactAedes aegypti mosquitoes which transmit dengue are active during the day that is early morning and late afternoon They can bite at any timeMyth 2Drinking papaya leaf juice can help cure dengueFactEven though papaya leaf juice is known to boost the platelet count in dengue patients there is no concrete evidence available regarding this claim The treating doctor will decide the appropriate line of treatment for the patient So it is advisable not to rely on papaya leaf juice or other home remedies like giloy juice Follow the instructions given by the doctor and avoid selfmedicationAs the weather in Mumbai is changing with unseasonal rains what are some precautions one should take to protect themselves from dengueBaghelTo prevent dengue eliminate stagnant water around your surroundings to stop mosquito breeding Wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites and stay vigilant for early symptoms of dengueGopalPersonal protection includes wearing long sleeves and pants using insect repellent with DEET picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus sleeping under mosquito nets especially during the day Aedes mosquitos are daybiters and using screens on doors and windowsEnvironmental control measures include eliminating stagnant water flowerpots buckets tires clogged drains covering water storage containers and promoting community cleanup campaignsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params