Jamaicans Urged Not to Use Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs To Treat Dengue Symptoms

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 1, CMC – Director of Health Services, Planning and Integration Dr. Nadine Williams is warning Jamaicans against using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac and ibuprofen, in the treatment of dengue symptoms.

Dr. Nadine Williams, Director of Health Services, Planning and Integration“These drugs (NSAIDs), when used in dengue, have been known to increase the severity of the disease. Severe dengue can result in organ failure, bleeding and severe fluid depletion that can lead to shock and death,” Dr. Williams said.

She is instead proffering rest and adequate hydration as being enough to see one through the period of illness adding that the recommended medication for fever associated with the dengue is acetaminophen or paracetamol.

Jamaica declared an outbreak of the disease on September 23 at which time, the country had recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed cases of dengue, the ministry said. Of that number, 78 cases had been confirmed, with the majority of the cases in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas, according to a release from the Ministry of Health.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that is usually a mild illness in which a person may get a fever, headache, joint, and muscle pains.

Persons experiencing fever, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding under the skin and other unusual forms of bleeding, feeling very weak, or getting confused, are urged to seek immediate medical attention.

Dr. Williams noted that since 2019, the government, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, has spent over $300 million on the acquisition of vehicles, fogging machines and the expansion of the number of staff dedicated to the vector management program.

In anticipation of a possible outbreak, the Ministry implemented its enhanced vector control program in July of this year.

Some of the measures included the employment of 500 temporary vector control workers to work alongside the 213-permanent staff. Another 600 temporary workers are to be engaged in search and destroy and health education activities.