Dengue prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility; together we can make a difference. National Dengue Day was first observed on 16th of May, 2016 by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. The aim of this day is to control the Dengue through create awareness, initiate preventive actions and continue till transmission season is over.
Dengue is a common viral disease spread by mosquito bite. It is transmitted by a mosquito called Aedes Aegypti. It occurs in two forms. The first form is, Classical Dengue fever also known as break bone fever because of the severe pain it develops in patients’ joints. The second form is Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever which is not only painful but also deadly. It usually results in abnormal bleeding from nose, gums or as blood in urine. The mosquito gets infected with dengue on biting a person infected with dengue. Also, dengue infection is highly contagious and can easily be spread from one person to another.
Every year, around 390 million dengue infections are reported from across the world. Dengue is more common in tropical areas of the world like the Indian subcontinent, southeast China, southeast Asia, Taiwan, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Mexico and Africa amongst others.
Symptoms of Dengue
Symptoms of dengue fever begin to show around 6 days after being infected with it. Sudden and high fever is one of the most common symptoms of dengue fever. Other symptoms include pain behind the eyes, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, rashes on the skin after 5 days of the onset of fever and mild bleeding.
It happens quite often that mild symptoms of dengue are mistaken for viral infection or the flu. Young children and people who have not been infected with dengue earlier are said to have milder symptoms than older children and adults. At times, dengue can cause serious complications like hemorrhagic fever. This is a condition which can damage lymph and blood vessels, can cause high fever, bleeding from nose and gums, liver enlargement and circulatory system failure. At times, the symptoms can progress to cause massive bleeding and cause shock and death. This condition is known as Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).
Risks of dengue are higher among people who have weak immune system and those who get the infection for the second or subsequent time.
Dengue diagnosis
Diagnosis of dengue is done with the help of blood test which helps in checking the viruses and antibodies in it.
Prevention
The best way to prevent dengue is to avoid mosquito bite and mosquito breeding in and around the houses.
So, how to do it?
- Use mosquito nets or repellents
- Wear long-sleeved clothes in order to prevent exposure of arms or legs to mosquitoes.
- Do not allow water to stagnate. The most common places for mosquitoes to breed are plastic containers, buckets, used automobile tyres, water coolers, pet watering containers and flower vases. So, ensure that they are cleaned at least once a week.
- Use pesticide spraying or fogging in your surroundings.
Home Remedies:
While there are no direct medical treatments available to cure dengue, there are effective remedies that relieve the symptoms of dengue fever. These include the use of barley grass, goldenseal, neem leaves, papaya, orange juice, coriander, basil leaves, water, fenugreek, and pomegranate juice.
There may not be a cure for the dengue virus, treatment of secondary conditions is common, and in most cases, patients can survive. However, due to the lack of a formalized cure, many herbal and home remedies have been developed, the most popular and effective of which are explained in greater detail below.
a) Papaya Leaves
Papaya leaves are widely known as being a natural cure for dengue fever. The complex mix of nutrients and organic compounds in papayas can cause a rise in your platelet count, the high levels of vitamin C help to stimulate the immune system, and the antioxidants help to reduce oxidative stress and eliminate excess toxins in the blood. The leaves can be crushed and then strained with a cloth to drink the pure juice.
b) Barley Grass
Barley grass has the unique ability to significantly increase the body’s blood platelet count by stimulating the production of more blood cells. You can drink barley tea or eat barley grass directly and see a rapid increase in platelet count, which is one of the serious side effects of dengue fever that can prolong weakness and increase the susceptibility of the body to dengue hemorrhagic fever and more serious complications.
c) Goldenseal
Although many herbal or natural remedies aren’t directly approved or proven through research, homeopathic physicians have praised goldenseal for its ability to clear up the symptoms of dengue fever very quickly and eliminate the virus from the body. Goldenseal not only helps to ease fevers, chills, headaches, nausea, and vomiting, but its natural antiviral capacity can essentially cure dengue fever in a matter of days.
d) Water
This may seem like common sense, but due to the excessive sweating, bodily exertion, and the internal toll that dengue fever takes on the body, extreme dehydration is common. Drink as much water as possible to keep the body hydrated, which will also help to ease symptoms like headaches and muscle cramps, both of which are exacerbated by dehydration. Furthermore, water will help to flush the body and eliminate excess toxins that can complicate the viral impact of the pathogen.
e) Neem Leaves
Neem leaves are commonly prescribed for a variety of ailments, and dengue fever is no exception. Steeping neem leaves and then drinking the subsequent brew has been shown to increase both blood platelet count and white blood cell count, two of the most dangerous side effects of the virus. Properly brewed neem leaves can improve the immune system and return your strength much faster than many other home remedies.
f) Orange Juice
The rich mixture of antioxidants and vitamins found in orange juice make it ideal for treating the secondary symptoms of dengue fever and eliminating the virus. Orange juice helps to promote antibodies of the immune system, increase urination and the release of toxins, and stimulates cellular repair due to vitamin C’s crucial role in the creation of collagen.
g) Fenugreek
Fenugreek leaves are known to reduce fever and act as a slight sedative to ease pain and promote more restful sleep for patients. This is a popular home remedy for dengue fever symptoms in numerous places around the world.
h) Basil
Chewing on basil leaves may not sound particularly appetizing, but this is known to be an important immune-boosting technique and has long been recommended in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of dengue fever. Basil essential oil also has natural insecticidal properties that protect you from mosquitoes, making basil a treatment and a preventative strategy!
Word of Caution:
Although most cases of dengue fever are not fatal, the fever can progress rapidly to more serious stages if the initial symptoms are not treated and preventative measures are not taken. If at all possible, seek professional medical attention if you think you’ve contracted dengue fever; only use these home remedies as supplemental treatments.
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Disclaimer: All information, data and material has been sourced from multiple authors and is for general information and educational purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor.
The views and nutritional advice expressed are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
