Dengue Fever: Desist from self-medication – GHS warns

The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, has cautioned the public against self-medicating if they experience fever, as it could be Dengue Fever.

This caution follows a GHS statement on July 17, confirming 36 cases of Dengue Fever in the Central and Eastern regions over the past 72 hours.

Dr. Bekoe stressed the importance of people experiencing fever reporting to the hospital for early treatment.

“The focus is about early detection and that is what we are doing so when you have a fever, don’t assume that it is malaria then you self-medicate. Come to the hospital, we take your blood – we first find out whether it is malaria and examine the cause of the fever,” he said.

He also highlighted ongoing activities by GHS to fight the outbreak, which include extensive community campaigns through information centres, radio stations, and public announcements to caution people about the Aedes mosquito, which spreads the virus.

It will be recalled that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced on July 14 the outbreak of clinical malaria, known as Dengue Fever, in some districts of the Eastern Region.

Initially recorded in five districts and municipalities of the Eastern Region, the disease is now in the Central region.

The GHS noted that out of the total number of cases recorded, one was admitted but treated and discharged.

The other affected persons are managing their conditions at home and are very stable.

“As of today, 17h July 2024, we have confirmed 36 cases from both Eastern and Central Regions.

“These cases were detected in the communities by health care workers using an appropriate Case Definition. It is worthy to note that, of all these cases, only one (1) was admitted but has been discharged. The remaining are all being managed at home and are stable,” the statement by the GHS said.

“All are reminded of the symptoms of dengue, and these include: Sudden onset of high-grade fever, Severe headache (mostly in the forehead), Body aches – muscle, bone and joint pains, Nausea and/or vomiting, Rash,” the GHS noted in a statement.

Source:theghanareport.com