Dengue is a familiar mosquito-borne disease in which blood platelet count gets drastically low and can prove to be fatal for the patient. Very few people are aware that the effects of dengue are more threatening during a women’s pregnancy, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. It may take a toll on the mother’s health as well as the baby’s.
We bring to you some crucial information which you must know if you or your dear ones are going through the pregnancy phase while Dengue fever is on the rise.
Symptoms
Sometimes dengue symptoms during pregnancy are ignored as there are many physiological changes taking place in the body already and thought of to be common. But the following symptoms in excess shouldn’t be ignored:
- Headache
- Multiple joint pains
- Rashes
- Bleeding from nose and gums
- Intermittent fever
Symptoms in baby
If the mother is suffering from Dengue fever at the time of birth, the baby may be stillborn because of low blood platelet count. Other than these, following symptoms are seen in babies born with dengue:
- Low birth weight
- Premature baby delivery
- Fever
Special care is required for the baby and mother if these symptoms arise. Hence both of them should be closely monitored. You should constantly get the baby checked up by a neonatologist.
Treatment
Rest: Adequate rest is necessary for the mother so that her body can compensate for the stress she is going through. It might become necessary to hospitalise the patient for proper care and observation.
Medication: It is very risky to take too many medications during pregnancy as it can affect the baby as well as cause organ failures in the mother. Most of the medicines are contraindicated in both dengue and pregnancy making it very complicated to treat. A specialist should be consulted to avoid any further complication. Medicines with ibuprofen and aspirin should be fully avoided.
Adequate diet: Dietary supplements are required to avoid fatigue and giddiness. Other than that, the patient should consume a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Milk and dairy products should be consumed in abundance.
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to keep both mother and baby safe. The following preventive measures can be followed to make sure to keep the duo away from the deadly disease:
- Avoid going to tropical or dengue-prone areas. If there aren’t options, avoid going to crowded places.
- Use mosquito repellent creams while going out.
- Use mosquito net while sleeping. Mosquito repellents aren’t recommended in excess as the mother and child might not take the strong medicated smoke out of them.
- Keep the mother’s and baby’s (if already born) body covered.
- Get your platelet count checked regularly for early diagnosis and better treatment.
A little care might save you from a lot of discomfort and illnesses that can affect the life if your baby and yourself. If you stumble across any of the symptoms, you should immediately see your gynaecologist to re-check and change your medicine prescription.