Chitral reports first dengue case
CHITRAL, Sept 27: Perhaps for the first time in the history of Chitral, a dengue case has been confirmed at the District Headquarters Hospital, the chief doctor of the hospital said on Friday.
Talking to this correspondent, Dr Noorul Islam, the medical superintendent (MS) of the hospital, identified the patient as Shehla Zia, 16, daughter of Haji Abdul Qayyum, of upper Mroi village. He said the young woman had married Ali Zeb of Mingora, Swat, about three years back and lived out of Chitral. A few days back she came to Chitral along with her husband and fell sick. She was brought to the DHQ hospital with the symptoms of dengue on Thursday. Dr Islam said they were already on red alert due to the spread of the disease in Swat and the government had provided them all necessary kits to diagnose and treat the patients. He said after confirmation that Ms Shehla was suffering from dengue, she has been kept in an isolation ward and was being provided the necessary treatment. Hes aid the patient was out of danger. Dr Islam said the hospital administration was also carrying out fumigation to eliminate the breeding of the dengue mosquitoes in the vicinity.
According to Wikipedia, dengue fever, also known as the break bone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.
Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquitoes. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous dehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases.]]>