Mommy September 18, 2018

Mosquito-borne diseases that all moms-to-be should know about

As a soon-to-be mom, protecting your unborn child takes precedence over everything else. Taking your vitamins, going for routine health checkups, baby-proofing the house, and learning about things related to your health and your baby’s, are all part of the journey to motherhood.

While researching to prepare for your big day, there’s one thing that you must pay special heed to: mosquito-borne diseases and how to protect yourself and your unborn baby from them.

Here are five of the most dangerous diseases spread by mosquitoes:

1. Chikungunya

While chikungunya is not always fatal, its symptoms – fever, joint swelling or pain, headaches, muscle pain – can be severe and incapacitating. The disease mostly affects the frail, such as senior citizens, babies and those with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Currently, there is no vaccine for its prevention, nor any sure-shot cure. All one can do is treat the symptoms.

2. Yellow fever

This is another disease with no cure, though a vaccine is available, so ask your paediatrician. Symptoms such as headaches, muscle and joint pain, fever with chills, and loss of appetite appear about a week after exposure, which means you won’t even know you’re ill until 3-6 days after being infected. The cure includes management of the symptoms and strengthening the immune system.

3. Dengue

Dengue is a debilitating disease. Incidences have increased dramatically around the globe. The worst thing about it is that patients can be asymptomatic – meaning it’s hard to detect without a blood test. Those who do have symptoms complain, for the most part, about high fever, skin rash, and pain behind the eyes. The incubation period is 4-7 days after the mosquito bite. There is no vaccination and the cure requires hospitalization and (in severe cases) blood transfusion followed by lots of rest and a liquid diet for a spell.

4. Malaria

Malaria is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases. Since it exhibits very flu-like symptoms, it can be hard to distinguish from the common flu. The disease manifests within 10 days to a month after infection. Some regions such as Europe have developed a vaccine, though India does not have one yet. Treatment is symptomatic and aims at eliminating the virus from the bloodstream.

5. Zika

Zika is caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes. The incubation period is not known but it’s believed to be very short – just a few days. The World Health Organization confirms that if a pregnant woman is infected, it could cause congenital brain abnormalities in the baby. There is no vaccine for Zika and treatment is only symptomatic.

The solution

When a woman is pregnant she needs to take extra care, especially with these deadly diseases about. It’s extremely important to keep mosquitoes at bay. The new Goodknight Gold Flash System is the perfect solution. It will ensure that your home is free from these disease-carrying pests. Keep it switched on day and night, and don’t worry, it’s absolutely safe for you and your baby.

Prevention is always better than cure, and with the new Goodknight Gold Flash System, you can rest assured you and your unborn child are well-protected.