An alert has been issued against viral infections after recent reports of such diseases from different parts of the district, District Medical Officer P.K. Mohanan has said.
The DMO urged the public to take precautions against H1N1 (swine flu), monkey fever (Kyasanur Forest Disease), dengue fever, rat fever (Leptospirosis), and scrub typhus.
Normal viral infections are characterised by fever that lasts for three to five days. With proper medication, complete rest, easily digestible food, and enough water, it is curable.
Swine Flu
Swine flu is characterised by the symptoms of most viral infections such as fever, cough, throat pain, runny nose, body pain, headache, and exhaustion.
The virus spreads into the air as the patient sneezes or coughs and infects others. The disease could be prevented largely by covering the nose and mouth with a kerchief while sneezing or coughing, and washing hands regularly.
The disease could be critical for pregnant women and children. The patients should remain isolated until the disease subsides, the DMO said.
KFD
Monkey fever is caused by some ticks often found on the bodies of monkeys. People living closer to forests and in contact with monkeys are most vulnerable. The DMO urged the public to refrain from going to the forest when cases of monkey fever are reported.
Scrub typhus is caused by ticks found in meadows and shrubs. The disease is characterised by reddening of the region where the tick bites. The person who is bitten also gets fever, headache, and muscle pain. The DMO urged those who work among shrubs and those going to meadows during picnics to wear clothes that prevent tick bites.
Rat fever
Rat fever is spread through rat urine and is characterised by fever, headache, muscle pain, and red eyes. Unless treated at an early stage, the disease could affect inner organs and cause death.
The DMO has urged those working in mud and cleaning drains to be cautious if they have wounds on their body.
Waste should be processed scientifically to avoid rats. Warning was also issued against delay in treatment. Rat fever could be misdiagnosed as jaundice by its symptoms.
Dengue fever is caused by Aedes mosquitoes that multiply in stagnant water. The disease is characterised by strong fever, pain in the eyes, rashes, headache, back ache, and bleeding from nose and gums.
The best way to avoid the disease is to destroy any source where mosquitoes could multiply.
