Dengue – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Friday, March 02, 2018 by Rhonda Johansson

Dengue, otherwise known as breakbone fever, is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can potentially lead to dangerous complications. The dengue virus is mostly found in tropical and subtropical climates but international travel has increased the range at which the vector is spread. It is estimated that half of the world’s population is now at risk of contracting dengue.

Severe dengue can be fatal in children, especially those that already have a weakened immune system. The World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that the dengue virus is the leading cause of serious illness and death in children in Southeast Asian and Latin American countries.

Diagnosed early, however, dengue can be treated fairly easily – with some patients needing to be confined at the hospital for a few days.

Known symptoms of dengue

Patients with dengue will have high fever accompanied by at least two of the following symptoms:

Severe headache
Joint pain
Muscle or bone pain
Rash
Severe eye pain (felt behind the eyes)
Mild bleeding (e.g. nose bleeds, gum bleeding, easily bruised, etc.)
Low white cell count

Patients who experience any of the following symptoms should immediately go to their nearest hospital.

Red spots or patches on the skin
Vomiting blood
Black, tarry stools
Drowsiness or irritability
Pale, cold, or clammy skin
Severe abdominal pain
Difficulty breathing

Dengue fever can last for two to seven days, with its associated symptoms generally lasting longer even after treatment. It is important that patients are given plenty of fluids and are made to bed-rest for at least one week.

Take note that dengue can trigger dengue shock syndrome, especially if the patient is not given enough water to compensate all the fluid lost through vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. The syndrome can cause excessive bleeding and even death.

Body systems affected by dengue

Dengue affects the entire body. The virus can cause internal bleeding prompted by the severe loss of fluids in the body. Remember that the human body is composed mostly of water. As with a sponge, once it loses vital fluids, the entire system will begin to shut down. This manifests itself in severe abdominal and muscle pain, accompanied by excruciating headaches.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent dengue

Dengue is spread through several species of the genus, Aedus – a common mosquito found in tropical climates. Preventing dengue, therefore, is focused on practicing good hygiene and avoiding areas that are populated by the mosquito.

Food will not prevent dengue.

That said, once you notice dengue symptoms, there are some herbal remedies you can try to alleviate some of the pain.

Papaya leaf juice – This is considered to be one of the best home remedies for dengue. The organic compounds in papaya enhance the blood cells in the body, while injecting great amounts of vitamin C in the system. This helps stimulate the immune system, allowing it to remove toxins.
Neem juice – Neem leaves increase the blood platelet count as well as the white blood cells. The leaf also enhances the immune system.
Coriander leaf juice – Coriander contains cineole and linoleic acid, two compounds that have anti-arthritic and anti-rheumatic properties. The leaves are also rich sources of vitamin C.

Treatments, management plans for dengue

There is no specific medicine for dengue. Patients are typically told to drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. If their blood count is low, a blood transfusion may be done. To relieve pain, patients are suggested to take analgesics rather than ibuprofen, as the latter can complicate symptoms.