Health
Dengue Fever Warning in Bangkok as Cases Rise Due to Heavy Rain
BANGKOK – The Health Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has issued a Dengue Fever as warning in Bangkok as dengue haemorrhagic fever is spreading in Nong Chok, Huai Khwang, Bang Kapi and Klong Samwa districts, with five fatalities this year.
Governor Aswin Khwanmuang on Monday, quoting the Health Department saying the spreading of disease in the four districts was attributed to heavy and consistent rain in the capital.
Governor Aswin said he ordered strict disease control measures, including fumigation to kill mosquito larvae.
From Jan 7 to Sept 8, the country recorded 52,670 patients of dengue haemorrhagic fever and 69 of them died. In Bangkok, there were 5,899 patients and five of them died, he said.
The figures were lower than those in the same period of last year but were higher than average figures in the past five years.
In the corresponding period of last year there were 53,190 patients nationwide including 9,368 in Bangkok, Governor Aswin told the Bangkok Post.
Dengue Fever
One of the things you may be worried about when you come to Thailand is if you can catch dengue fever in Bangkok. Dengue fever is a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes and tens of thousands of cases usually spring up nationwide every year.
Most cases of dengue fever in Thailand tend to surface in rural areas of the country — areas with a higher population of mosquitoes and where much of the population lives in non-airconditioned homes and sleeps with open windows. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t get dengue fever in Bangkok as, yes, you can.
Symptoms for dengue fever – Symptoms for dengue fever include a rash that starts on your upper torso and spreads to the rest of your body. You may also have pain behind your eyes, a headache, flu-like symptoms, a high fever, muscle aches and vomiting or diarrhea.
What should you do if you think you have contracted dengue fever in Bangkok? – There isn’t a treatment for dengue fever other than to take something like Tylenol for any pain you are experiencing and to help to bring the fever down.
That’s why, for many people who do contract dengue fever, it means nothing more than making sure they get lots of rest and stay completely hydrated, as dehydration is one of the main causes of major problems in dengue fever sufferers.
If your symptoms worsen, however, a trip to the hospital will be in order, where you will probably be admitted and put on an intravenous drip. In extreme cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary as internal bleeding can occur.
Less than one percent of dengue fever cases are fatal, however, so the disease will likely give you more of a scare and make you feel ill for a couple of weeks rather than be life-threatening.
