PugliaSalute

What is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral disease spread through mosquito bites, particularly if the mosquito has previously bitten an infected person.

While Dengue is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, it can also reach Europe through individuals infected with the virus returning from countries where the disease is prevalent.

Which are the symptoms?

In most cases the disease is asymptomatic.

One or more symptoms may occur 5-6 days after the mosquito bite: high fever, muscle and joint pain. For this reason, Dengue is also known as “bone-breaking fever”. You may also feel headache with pain around and behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, rashes.

What to do in case of symptoms?

It's important to contact your doctor right away, if you develop Dengue symptoms upon returning from abroad.

How to protect yourself?

• Dress in covering, light-colored clothing, for example sweaters or shirts with long sleeves and long trousers;
• if you have uncovered parts of the body, use an anti-mosquito repellent (spray/blot/roll-on) based on picaridin/icaridin (KBR 3023) or DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) 
  • at the seaside or in the sun, always apply it after sunscreen;
  • especially if it is hot and you sweat, apply it several times during the day;
  • never use it on cuts, wounds or irritated skin;
  • don’t apply it on the palms of children's hands to avoid accidental contact with eyes and mouth;
  • before using, read the directions on the label carefully, particularly before use on children and pregnant or breastfeeding women;
• limit the use of perfumes, deodorants, creams and aftershave.

How to avoid msquitoes proliferation?

• Use mosquito nets on windows and doors, even if there is air conditioning;
• if you use household insecticides (such as aerosol cans, stovepipes, vaporisers or electric emitters), always keep windows open to ensure a continuous exchange of air; 
• empty all objects that retain water every day, such as flowerpots, saucers, watering cans, planters, buckets, toys, inflatable pools, tubs, rubbish containers, tyres, etc.;
• empty water troughs and water bowls for pets at least once a week;
• turn upside down or do not leave outdoors containers that can fill with water in the rain;
• keep the garden clean, remove grass clippings and prune hedges;
• keep fountains and ornamental ponds clean. You can introduce goldfish, they love eating mosquitoes larvae;
• check that gutters are not clogged and that there is no stagnant water;
• cover tubs, cisterns and watering tanks with mosquito nets, tarpaulins or covers;
• utilize larvicide products every 3-4 weeks in areas where water stagnation cannot be avoided (for example manholes, drains, private and communal roadside drains). You can buy the products in pharmacies or specialised shops. Alternate at least two different products to avoid the development of resistant larvae;
• do not use adulticides sprayed in the air or on vegetation to kill adult mosquitoes because they have a weak and short-lived effect and they are not normally indicated for ordinary mosquitoes control. Due to their uncontrolled misuse, many mosquito species have become resistant to these products.

The posters produced are available in the attachment for dissemination, printing and posting in doctors' offices, veterinary practices, pharmacies and all appropriate places.