Dengue and Paracetamol

I got to read the Sunday paper yesterday, on print.  Something that I rarely do nowadays since I mostly depend on online news to get myself updated.  I came across with an ad that is very useful nowadays.  Since the dengue outbreak is not over yet, it always helps to be informed.

The ad said that paracetamol is the only medicine for fever caused by dengue.  This meant that not all medicines for fever can be taken, especially if we are not sure that the fever is a symptoms of dengue.  And this also means that we are not supposed to take medicines by word of mouth.

We are not supposed to take Ibuprofen and Aspirin and other types when one has dengue because it could lead to or worsen gastritis and bleeding.  This is according to the 2009 World Health Organization Dengue guidelines for Diagnostic Treatment, Prevention and Control, the ad said.

So, I think what the ad says is, at the onset of any signs and symptoms, paracetamol can be given to lower down the fever, then seek medical help to know exactly what is causing the fever.

Dengue Symptoms:

• nausea
• severe headache
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• abdominal and muscle pain
• lethargy or irritability/restlessness
• bleeding of nose and gums