Dengue season in Pakistan arrives with the rains, and every year hospitals fill up. The disease is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean, standing water — the water you may not even notice collecting around your home.
Prevention starts with breeding-site removal. Empty, scrub or cover every water container: flowerpot trays, cooler bases, buckets, tyres, bird baths and roof tanks. The mosquito breeds in days, so check and clean once a week without fail. Use window screens, sleep under nets and apply repellent in the evening hours when the mosquito feeds.
Recognise the warning signs. Dengue typically brings high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea and a rash. Most cases are managed at home with rest, fluids and paracetamol — never aspirin or brufen, which raise bleeding risk. Warning signs like vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding gums or drowsiness mean immediate hospital care.
If you suspect dengue, get a blood test early, keep your fluid intake high and monitor platelets under medical guidance. Prevention, honestly, is worth more than any treatment.
What is dengue and how does it spread?
Dengue is a viral infection spread by the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean standing water around homes — prevention means removing breeding sites, not just avoiding bites.
How do you prevent dengue at home?
Empty, scrub or cover every water container weekly — flowerpot trays, cooler bases, buckets and roof tanks — and use window screens, nets and evening repellent.
What does a weekly dengue-proofing routine look like?
Dedicate 30 minutes every Saturday to a breeding-site sweep, because the Aedes mosquito breeds in clean standing water within days. Indoors: check and scrub flowerpot trays, cooler bases, plant saucers, pet bowls and any container holding water — empty and dry them, don’t just refill. Outdoors: inspect roof tanks (cover tightly and seal gaps), gutters, buckets, tyres, bird baths and water storage drums; cover drums with tight lids and clean them weekly. Around entry points: install or repair window screens, keep doors closed in the evening, and use mosquito nets over beds in affected areas. In the evening hours, when the Aedes mosquito feeds, apply repellent to exposed skin and use coil or spray in the bedroom before sleeping. Keep the lawn trimmed and remove any shaded standing water where mosquitoes rest. If someone in the house develops fever, act early: paracetamol only, plenty of fluids, and a blood test if dengue is suspected — never aspirin or brufen. Prevention takes an hour a week; treatment takes far more.
