What should you do, what shouldn't you do in the face of Dengue? Answering this and other questions about the fever, was Dr Randeep Guleria, Professor of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's personal physician.

Here is the transcript:

Dr Randeep Guleria,AIIMS says, OK I am here to answer your questions relating to dengue and chikungunya. Please go ahead and shoot.

Manish p asked, Hi Doc...please Let us know whether Papaya Leaf Juice can Cure Dengue?
Dr Randeep Guleria,AIIMS answers, I am aware of some reports on email saying that Papaya leaf juice is useful. No scientific evidence to confirm. remember platelets will on there on come up as dengue resolves

sreedhar asked, hi iam sreedhar i was already affected with dengue. Doctors have given in their report that i was treated with Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. My platelet count started decreasing from normal count to 26000. What i wanted to really know is: was i affected with haemorrhagic dengue fever? And the second thing i wanted to really know is if i get second time the dengue ever will it be fatal to me? please answer these questions i will be grateful to u thank you in anticipation sreedhar
Dr Randeep Guleria,AIIMS answers, Hi Sreedhar, for a confirmed diagnosis of dengue you need to get your blood selological test done (IgM). Some studies suggest that because you develop immunity to one strain you may have a more severe form if you subsequently infected by an different strain. Not been proved. So do not worry

minnie asked, i heard dengue is basically abt a mosquito biting u cause of which u get internal bleeding and there are chances that u die of it! Is it true??
Dr Randeep Guleria,AIIMS answers, Dengue is caused by a virus which is transmitted by the aedes mosquito which is infected by the virus. In a small percentage of patient it can cause bleeding. It is not fatal in majority. Fatality in severe cases is about 4%, but it can be brought dowm to less than 1% if properly treated

denguechacha asked, initial symptoms please !! DOCTOR
Dr Randeep Guleria,AIIMS answers, Dengue starts with high grade fever, headache, pain behind the eyes. There may be pain in the stomach and there may be a skin rash which look dark brown. After a few days the platelts may fall and one may bleed from the gums, nose or from the stomach. There are certain warning signs like sudden fall in temperature, bleeding , decrese in blood pressure and drowsiness.

LOBO asked, IS THERE NO CURE FOR DENGUE OR CHICUNGUNIA ?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Both dengue and Chickinguniya are caused by virusis. There are no anti viral drugs for these two diseases but these are mild self limiting diseases which need only supportive management and resolve on there own.

LOBO asked, WHAT MEDICATION TO GIVE AT HOME FOR A DENGUE PATIENT ?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Give plenty of fluids, for an adult about 2 to 3 liters per day. Give only paracetamol for fever and look out for any bleeding or drowsinee, pain in the stomach or vomiting

kaushikjs2004 asked, Sir, my father aged 67yr, suffering from P. Vivax Malaria. His platelets dropped upto 62000. Doctors declare dengue with malaria. How can we confirm this.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Malaria can also cause decrease in platelets and DIC. Only if the selolgical tests are positive can one say that both diseases are present

rajesh kanna asked, my friend is affected with denque now and admitted in hospital.is it contagious since we want to visit him. pls kindly clarify.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Dengue is not contagious. You can visit your friend.

ankur asked, what is the best way to avoid dengue???
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, To avoid dengue take care to prevent mosuito breeding wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Also use mosquito repellents

kk asked, Hi Dr Randeep, Iam Rahaman. What the duration for cure once we start treatment of this dicease.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Hi Rahaman, Dengue usually lasts for 7 to 10 days. The virus is eliminated after this. So if fever is more that 2 weeks unlikely to be dengue. Also if no fever for more than 2 days you should be alright

anks asked, Sir, pls tell us if it is for sure that if aedes mosquito bites someone, the he will always get infected with dengue. Yesterday I was bitten by aedes mosquito (white dotted legs and body). If yes, then generally in how many days one sees the symtoms of dengue.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No only an aedes mosquito which is carring the virus will be infectious. The incubation period is usually 5 to 7 days. So if one is bitten it can take up tp 7 days for symptoms to develop

jagtap asked, does dengue infection give life time immunity?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, There are4 subtypes of dengue virus. Infection with one sub type give immunity only to that sub type and you can get dengue again if infected by another subtype

Aniket asked, Is there a vaccine for this disease?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No currently there is no vaccine presently. Research is on to develop a tetavalent vaccine

shalabh asked, Hi I am coming to India with my family and my kids are 21/2 and 8 months old they got some vacines but I want to know that wht kind of precautions we should take while we r in India.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Avoid maosuiot bites. Wear full sleeve shirts and pants. Bring mosquito repellents (DEET). Do not worry usually by the en of October the disease comes down on it own due to dip in temperature

Sai asked, Hi !!!What is the vulnerebility to DENGUE?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, everyone is vunerable if he or she is bitten by an infected mosquito.

rs1975in asked, Sir, how does this dengue or chickengunya virus propogates? If a normal mosquito bites an infected person, and then that mosuito bites another normal person. What are the chances that the normal person gets infected?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Both dengue and chickingunya propgate from on person to another by the infected moaquioto If an aedes mosquito bites an infected person during the early phase ( viremia period, when the virus is in the blood)the virus enters the mosquito and than after a few days this mosuiot starts trasmitting the disease to every one it bites or probes

PS asked, I had fever a couple of weeks back with cold, after that I am feeling very week and lazy, is it symtoms of Dengu?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No dengue patients recover completly. Remember a number of viral fevers other than dengue can lead to fatigue that may last for a few weeks. take good amont of fliuds and electrolytes and some multi vitamins

Laxmikanta asked, HI Doctor how can I know whether I am affected or not after a mosquito bite?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, After a bite it takes 5 to 7 days to become symtomatic. In the early stage only a blood test for the virus (PCR or viral Culture) is positive. This is not available freely. Another test for the antibodies is the IgM test. This is availabel as a rapid test and needs only a drop of blood. It becomes positive only after 5 days of the fever

Tushar asked, Hi, Is it spread by air?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No it does not spread by air or by close contact with an infected person

dd asked, I have heard antibiotics are fatal if you have dengue. Is it true?? It can be possible that initially dengue fever can be mistaken as normal viral fever and we consume some antibiotic.
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No antibiotics are not fatal if you have dengue. They are however not indicated

Rakesh asked, Dr. Randeep...is Dengue curable?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Yes rakesh it is

Prajith asked, IS there any vaccination available which can prevent occurence of Dengue especiallyfor kIds please suggest
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No currently there are no vaccine available

avinashkumar asked, does the dengue mosquito breed in dried dirty places also..or only in moist condition..?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No the moaquior breeds in freh water. The larva may survive for up to 1 year in dried places like cooler that have been dried but not cleaned. That is how the mosquiots come back after an year

DSRAO asked, Is the govt complacent or should people do something rather than the govt. What is the long term solution ? dsrao
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, A collective effort is needed to tackle mosquioto breeding citizen awareness, combined cleaning inside and outside the house and pressure on the authorities to start work well in time rather than wait for things to happen

Davinder asked, Hi, My cousion got severe fever few days back. But now he don't have fever but his platlets has gone down to 70000. Is he still vulnerable to dengue ....what should he do to increase platlets..
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, In dengue at times the platelets may dip when the fever declines You should get his tests down for the next 2 to 3 days. Also give plenty of fluids

sunil asked, Sir,Dengu treatment is available in private hospitals also other than AIIMS ?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Yes it is a mild disease only at times does it become severe Any good hospital public and private can treat dengue

avinashkumar asked, fever is the irst symptoms of dengue?...means unless u dont have fever,there is no need for check up,even if u have some cold,body ache?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Yes just bodyaches or vomiting without fever does not mean that you have dengue

abushcoat asked, why do you think is there a sudden emergence of mosquito diseases like dengue / chickungunya in India? Can you identify any reasons?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, Some data suggests this. Could be due urbanization, overcrowding using a lot of plastic dispoable containers in which water collects after the rains. Also are awareness and diagnostic abilites have increased. In the past many such pateints may have been labelled as undiffentiasted fever

sanjeev asked, what sort of research is AIIMS involved in answer to such tropical kiler strains of virus?
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, AIIMS is doing research in looking at the epidemiology of the disease, effective preventive measures, possible vaccine development and virus categorization

df asked, doctor, i have just recovered from dengue... does it cause blindness? am asking this because i can't see the answer to my questions... please answer, sir!
Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS answers, No it does not cause blindness

Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS says, Thank you for all your questions. Sorry have to go back to the hospital. may be we could contine some other time.