By: Dr. Vasu Singh (Bureau Chief-ICN UP)
LUCKNOW: Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4). Infection with one serotype of DENV provides immunity to that serotype for life, but provides no long-term immunity to other serotypes. Thus, a person can be infected as many as four times, once with each serotype.
Dengue viruses are transmitted from person to person by Aedes mosquitoes (most often Aedes aegypti) in the domestic environment.
Epidemics have occurred periodically in the Western Hemisphere for more than 200 years. In the past 30 years, dengue transmission and the frequency of dengue epidemics have increased greatly in most tropical countries like India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.
What are the symptoms of Dengue Fever?
Classic dengue fever, or “break bone fever,” is characterized by acute onset of high fever 3–14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms include: frontal headache retro-orbital pain, myalgias, arthralgias, hemorrhagic manifestations, rash, and low white blood cell count.
The patient also may complain of anorexia and nausea. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about 1 week, but weakness, malaise, and anorexia may persist for several weeks.
Some patients with dengue fever go on to develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease.
Diagnosis of Dengue Fever:
The diagnosis of dengue is usually made clinically. The classic picture is high fever with no localising source of infection, a petechial rash with thrombocytopenia and relative leukopenia – low platelet and white blood cell count.
Laboratory Diagnosis of dengue infection:
One can get DENGUE FEVER ANTIBODY, IgM & IgG. This is a costly test. From Dr Lal Path Lab, it is costing nearly Rs. 1200.
Aim of treatment of dengue fever:
•Relieving symptoms of pain.
• Controlling fever.
• Telling patients to avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications because they may increase the risk for hemorrhage.
• Reminding patients to drink more fluids, especially when they have a high fever.
How to Treat Dengue Fever:
• Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
• Antipyretics to control temperature. Children with dengue are at risk for febrile seizures during the febrile phase of illness.
• Avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications because they increase the risk of hemorrhage. People generally take Brufen or Combiflam tablets in such fever conditions, these are to be avoided.
• Get platelet counts.
Prevention of Dengue Fever:
There is no tested and approved vaccine for the dengue.
Primary prevention of dengue is mosquito control.
Dengue fever and Homeopathy medicines:
In Homoeopathy, we have more than 20 medicines which can be taken based on different symptoms of fever in different stages. I would suggest you to please consult your homeopathic physician or homeopathic consultant for appropriate selection of the homeopathic drug for dengue fever.
You can use following guideline for some of homeopathic remedies used in dengue fever:
Aconite: Sudden onset of symptoms with anxious restlessness. Headache worse by cold, dry wind.
Arsenicum album: atients is chilly. Better by heat. Restless and Exhausted. <12-3AM. Anxiety and despair of recovery. Thirst for sips often (warm drinks). > warm drinks.
Belladonna:Sudden onset of symptoms with hot, flushed, red face with cold extremities.
Headache – right side < Noise, light, etc.–
Eupatorium perf :Fever with some periodicity. Soreness – Bones painful, as if they would break. Pain in limbs and back. Desire for ice water despite shaking chill.
Gelsemium: Fever with chill alternating with heat in back. Dull, dizziness, drowsy look. Eyes – heavy, weak. Thirstless.
