A Physician Specialist with the Department of Internal Medicine at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr. Elizabeth Tabitha Abbew has urged the public to remain calm and vigilant when the new Dengue fever slowly spreads across the country.
So far, 36 cases of Dengue have been confirmed from the Eastern and Central Regions as of today 17th July 2024.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) revealed this in a statement adding that many more samples from the suspected cases are being investigated at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).
According to GHS, healthcare workers detected the cases within communities using an appropriate Case Definition.
The GHS urged the public to report any symptoms of Dengue they may experience emphasizing they ought not self-medicate when they have high-grade fever.
Elaborating on this on ATL FM’s Atlantic Wave, Dr. Elizabeth Abbew, explained that self-medication with painkillers would only make the virus spread and cause an individual to grow weaker because Dengue has no cure.
She stressed that self-medication could worsen the situation as such affected persons must visit the nearest hospital for medical attention.
“It’s an acute infection. It will go. The only thing is that in that acute phase, it needs to be treated… Please don’t stay at home and take ibuprofen because the dengue causes the breakdown of the, what we call the platelets and ibuprofen, diclofenac, those drugs can worsen that situation,” she continued.
The signs include sudden onset of high-grade fever Severe headache (mostly in the forehead) Body aches muscle, bone and joint pains Nausea and/or vomiting and Rash.
Dr. Elizabeth Abbew highlighted that Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection, and all must ensure an environment around them is mosquito-free for safer livelihood.
According to her, the Aedes mosquito is more active in the morning between 6:00 and 10:00 and between 4:00 and 8:00 in the evening.
She said “You need the insecticide, the repellent, and then wearing long clothes. We are lucky that the temperature now is a bit lower. So, if you wear long clothes, at least you are protected…If you have water sources around your house and breed mosquitoes, please get them out, clean your environment, and ensure we don’t breed the Aedes for you to get bitten.”
She also called on the public not to live in fear and panic and added that individuals can visit the hospital at all times to get tested at no cost.
Read also: GHS Confirms 36 Cases of Dengue in Eastern and Central Regions
Source: Angelina Riley Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
