Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 29
HEALTH & well-being
quell the skin peeling. Add non-stop
itching to the equation, and you have
a recipe for misery.
Phase 6:
EXHAUSTION, MEMORY LOSS, & MILD
DEPRESSION
Some lucky folk have their two weeks
of dengue and then life goes back
to normal. But for many others,
a post-viral chronic fatigue sets
in. It’s exhaustion so deep that
it includes intermittent memory
loss, the odd panic attack or two,
and an inexplicable sense of despair.
My poor husband fell into the latter
category. This can last for a few weeks
or many months. In this case, it becomes crucial to follow a healthy
diet, to do mild aerobic exercise,
and to seek professional assistance
to ensure that the fatigue and other
symptoms don’t become an unmanageable long-term issue.
Now that I’ve managed to scare
you all, I’m sure you’ll pay attention
when I tell you that prevention is key!
You and your family can do your
best to avoid this harrowing
and potentially life-threatening
infection by taking some simple
steps including:
©© Regularly check your house or condo and surrounding areas for potential breeding grounds. Yes, even
if you live in a 26th floor condo,
they can and will find you.
©© Always wear a mosquito repellent that contains DEET. We tried
the natural citronella options,
but they just didn’t cut the mustard
and we continued to be bitten.
Don't let flower pots
collect water
©© Burn mosquito coils
or use high-quality electric zapping machines in outdoor areas.
©© Cover your beds with mosquito
nets.
©© Sleep with the air conditioning
on and keep all doors and windows fully sealed.
©© If like us, you enjoy water features
and ponds, make sure you include
little fish who will happily munch
on the mosquito larvae.
©© Replace flower vase water
on a regular basis.
©© Cover any drains that
are not in regular use. The Aedes
love a dark and shady location
to breed.
issues gives you a sense of respect
and wonder for the power of nature. Ok, the truth is, whenever
I see a mosquito these days, I chase
it with one of those electric zapping
racquets like a mad woman. Granted
some positives have resulted from
our household dengue crisis. It finally
gave us the impetus to live a healthier life. We have started to exercise
more regularly and we eat healthier
foods. A weakened and unhealthy
immune system makes you more susceptible to the serious form of dengue. We all live and learn, sometimes
the hard way.
FIRST SIGNS
OF DENGUE FEVER:
©© Drain excess water from flower
pots and their trays.
High fever (38C /
100.4 F or higher) and at least
two of the following:
The mere fact that such a tiny insect
could cause such serious health
©© Severe headache
©© Severe pain behind the eyes
The mosquito
carrying dengue
bites at all times
of the day
©© Joint pain
©© Muscle and/or bone pain
©© Rash
©© Mild bleeding manifestation
(e.g., nose or gum bleed,
petechiae, or easy bruising)
©© Low white cell count
Source: Centre
for Disease Control
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