1 Woman Pregnant With Zika! 5 Dengue Symptoms You NEED To Know (Maharashtra in Danger!)

With the onset of the monsoon, cases of mosquito-borne diseases have started rising in many states across the country. In the last 15-20 days, dengue cases have surged in various cities in Maharashtra and nearby areas.

Meanwhile, recent reports indicate that the threat of the Zika virus is also increasing in Pune city, with six cases of Zika infection reported. Among the patients are two pregnant women.

An official reported that a 28-year-old pregnant woman tested positive for Zika virus infection on Friday, and another woman, 12 weeks pregnant, was confirmed infected on Monday. Both women are currently in stable condition.

Zika virus infection can be severe and even life-threatening, prompting officials to advise constant precautions. In pregnant women, Zika infection poses a risk of microcephaly in the fetus, a condition where the head is abnormally small due to improper brain development.

Understanding how to differentiate between dengue and Zika and the necessary prevention efforts is crucial.

According to media reports, an increase in dengue cases has been recorded in many cities of Maharashtra and surrounding areas even before this year’s monsoon. By May, about 1,800 people had been diagnosed with dengue in Maharashtra.

The number of hospitalized patients has also risen. Health experts have warned that dengue cases might surge further during the rainy season, emphasizing the need for everyone to be vigilant from now onwards.

Since both dengue and Zika are mosquito-borne diseases with similar symptoms, how can one differentiate between them?

Zika infection is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. If a pregnant woman contracts Zika, there is a risk that the virus could infect the fetus. The virus can persist in body fluids like semen for several weeks to months after infection, even without symptoms, posing a risk of transmission through sexual intercourse with an infected person.

Only 1 in 5 people with Zika exhibit symptoms, which can include fever, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and skin redness or itching.

Dengue fever is also spread by infected mosquitoes, but it does not transmit from person to person. Dengue mosquitoes are more active during the day, making it crucial to take preventive measures against mosquito bites.

Symptoms of dengue can vary, including fever, nausea, vomiting, rashes, muscle and joint pain, or headache. In severe cases, there is an increased risk of internal bleeding.

Both dengue and Zika are mosquito-borne infectious diseases, but Zika virus is more contagious than dengue and chikungunya. Zika primarily affects children and pregnant women.

Differentiating between the two based on symptoms alone is challenging, but there are distinct differences. Zika can spread from one person to another, unlike dengue. It is vital to pay serious attention to symptoms and seek timely treatment.