Dengue virus is transmitted by a bite from Aedes aegypti mosquito. Only the female mosquito transmits the dengue virus . This mosquito is a daytime biter both inside and outside homes and is most active in the hours after sunrise and before sunset. It breeds inside and outside the home in containers holding water and rarely fly more than 200 meters from the breeding site.So , you need to keep your surroundings clean to avoid it.
Symptoms of Dengue fever :-
-Fever, skin rash, severe muscle and joint pain, severe headaches. Some cases have few symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This fever debilitates or weakens your body. It is called 'Break Bone Fever ' also.
-In the dengue fever liver of the patient is targeted ; there is impaired functioning of the liver . So it becomes very important to supply your body with easy to digest food.
-Dengue patients
generally lose their appetite . You will have to try a variety of
light and delicious homemade foods in small quantities.
To prevent dehydration – drink plenty of water or liquid drinks- such
as coconut water ,ors , juices to replenish electrolytes in your
body .
Having ginger tea or herbal tea helps prevent fever .
Giloey andTulsi tea :- Boil 10-15 basil leaves and 4-5 leaves of giloey in 200 ml of water on low flame for half an hour . Strain it and drink it 2-3 times in a day.
In Ayurveda juice of crushed papaya leaves is considered as the best remedy in dengue fever - give two tablespoons of this in morning or night for at least one week to get better result. It is bitter in taste and you would probably have to mix it with fruit juice. "Papaya Juice " is a sure shot proven relief for Dengue . Papin enzyme in papaya juice helps to improve your depleting platelets count. You can also take papaya leaf extract tablets instead of papaya leaf juice.
Orange juice, lemon
juice & Amla juice
- It enhances the urinary output , also it has lots of vitamins and minerals . These also promote antibody production. Vitamin C present in these fruits can aid in preventing dengue hemorrhagic fever.
To increase the blood count pomegranate juice or black grape juice or aloe vera juice should be given.
Fruits and vegetable juice – Carrot and cucumber juice are also good to
drink . Straw berry and Kiwi juices help in production of
lymphocytes.
Protein rich food such as milk or egg should be given to patients for speedy recovery (Goat milk is good to drink if available It is believed that goat milk helps to increase the platelets count but there is no specific evidence to establish this belief)
Avoid spicy ,fatty ,oily and
fried food .
Note :- Soups and juices enhance the hunger of patient . Give liquid diet for 3-4 days . After improvement in the digestive system you can give soft solid food to the patient like boiled vegetables,porridge , rice porridge , bananas etc. With a little bit care the patient will recover fast. Chyavanprash can be taken as it is an immune booster, blood purifier and increases the blood count.
The most effective form of treatment is actually prevention. Avoid stagnant water as that is the place where mosquitoes reproduce. Go for fogging or hit spray to eliminate mosquitoes , use mosquito nets , stay indoors at dawn and dusk when the Aedes mosquitoes are most active . Apart from eliminating or avoiding the mosquitoes the researchers are working on a dengue vaccine as well as medication targeted directly at the virus. Aspirin and ibuprofen should not be given to a patient of dengue. Paracetamol is the drug of choice for fever in dengue cases.
Warning :- Most cases can be treated at home with a watch on the symptoms but In some cases dengue fever can turn into something more serious known as hemorrhagic fever. This can cause bleeding, vomiting, belly pain and even death also. People with dengue hemorrhagic fever need to be treated in a special medical facility immediately.
Dr. Suman Setia , BAMS,DNHE,PGDHHM.