JAMIA DENGUE HELPLINE
Jamia Millia Islamia, NEW DELHI

The deterioration in the quality of air and water results in the occurrences of various forms of diseases in different parts of the country. For example, parts of southern India experience widespread cases of chicken gaunia, U.P. and Bihar face problems of Encephalitis and Meningitis. Delhi and the surrounding states observe increase in Dengue cases after rainy season and almost in all states Jaundice, Typhoid, Viral fever and gasteroentitis cases are on the rise. Efforts are always made by the Central and State agencies to provide necessary medical assistance and reduce the causalities. However, it is also important that each one of us should owe the responsibility to provide the desired help as and when required. One such way could be that of making ourselves available to donate blood so that the lives of many are saved. The Jamia Dengue Helpline is primarily aimed at creating a feeling of universal brotherhood and to motivate people across various sections of the society as to how they could involve themselves in this great mission. The present initiative will be directed towards mobilizing people for blood donation to the needy ones, including dengue patients, and to make available information pertaining to the potential donors so that needy persons may contact them as and when required.

Objectives

1.To create awareness among people as to how they should help others when required,

2.To mobilize people for blood donation,

3. Making blood donors available to users,

4. Data bank generation about potential blood donors for health officials.

Nature of activity

Purely social service (Non – political)

Mechanism

1.Creation of a Web page named as “Jamia Dengue Helpline”

2.Online registration/query building

3.Making available blood groups, contacts details of the potential donors for convenience of the needy/health officials

Service sector that could be involved

1.National Service Scheme (NSS) Volunteers

2.Social Workers

3.NGO’s

Collaboration to be created

1. National Service Scheme (NSS) units of Universities/colleges

2.Health Officials

3. Hospitals

4. Public servants

What are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever ?

Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "break bone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children.

Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. With dengue hemorrhagic fever, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (dengue shock syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults.

What is the treatment for dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever ?

There is no specific treatment for dengue. Persons with dengue fever should rest and drink plenty of fluids. They should be kept away from mosquitoes for the protection of others. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is treated by replacing lost fluids. Some patients need transfusions to control bleeding.

What can be done to reduce the risk of acquiring dengue?

There is no vaccine for preventing dengue. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with Aedes aegypti is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, primarily artificial containers that hold water.

Items that collect rainwater or are used to store water (for example, plastic containers, big drums, buckets, or used automobile tires) should be covered or properly discarded. Pet and animal watering containers and vases with fresh flowers should be emptied and scoured at least once a week. This will eliminate the mosquito eggs and larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes present in these areas

Tests for Dengue
CBC - WBC Count, Platelet Count, Haematocrit
S. Protien, S. Albumin
Liver Function Tests
Urine - microscopic haematuria
Dengue IgG & IgM.

List of Potential Donors