What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is a viral fever that spreads through mosquito bites. The types of mosquitoes which spread chikungunya are also capable of carrying dengue virus which causes illness in humans. The dengue virus is of five different types. The person getting infected with one type of virus gains immunity for life from that particular type of dengue infection buy short term immunity from other types.
Any person can get infected a few times from different types of viruses of dengue. This infection can become life-threatening of not treated properly.
In small proportions though but this disease can enter into advanced stages which pose a threat to life.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever resulting in bleeding, a sudden drop in blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, and dengue shock syndrome which causes dangerously low blood pressure, are life-threatening conditions.
Home remedies for dengue fever are commonly employed in various countries for relieving symptoms. Natural treatment for dengue fever has shown heartening signs even in the prevention of infection.
Dengue has become a worldwide problem and is commonly found in 110 countries. It causes nearly 10000 to 20000 thousands of death every year worldwide.
The symptoms of infection are high fever with headaches, joint pain, vomiting, etc. which may last for 2 days to a week. The severe cases of dengue are more common in children and females.
People with high BMI are also at risk of suffering from severe symptoms of dengue fever. The virus after entering the blood of a person if grows disproportionately higher can affect organs like liver and bone marrow.
It causes leakage of blood from blood capillaries which get absorbed in surrounding organs due to permeability. This condition causes dangerously low blood pressure and poses a serious threat to life.
Home remedies for dengue fever have been found effective in checking the progression of infection by controlling viral growth. Vaccination for dengue fever has also been approved and is used for preventing infection from spreading.
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Causes and Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Bite of infected mosquito is the only cause of dengue fever. Aedes type of A. Aegypti mosquito is mainly responsible for collecting virus from infected person’s blood and transmitting it into other healthy human beings.
The virus grows in human blood and the immune system responds by releasing antibodies that cause fever and other symptoms. Protection from a mosquito carrying dengue virus is the only way to stay protected from illness.
Humans are major hosts of the virus but other mammals and birds can also host the virus. It takes about 8-10 days for a female mosquito to mutate virus into the form which can reside in human blood and rapidly grow.
Vertical transfusion from others to the child and through a donation of infected organs and blood is also reported. The virus can evolve to enhance the mode of transfusion quickly and person to person transfusion has also been reported recently.
The virus does not affect mosquito carrying it and mosquito can remain infected throughout its life. The breeding of mosquito is fast in places where water is logged in artificial containers.
Nearly 80% of people who get infected with dengue virus remain asymptomatic and suffer from uncomplicated fever. Out of remaining 20% about 5% suffer from severe disease.
The symptoms of dengue fever can resemble other viral fevers so clinical tests are conducted to identify exactly the type of infection.
Generally, symptoms of dengue fever are higher fever with a headache located behind eyes, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle and joint pain and formation of rash.
The incubation period for the virus is about 3-14 days but generally, symptoms arrive within 5-7 days. Reduced platelet count or positive white blood cell count are tests which clearly diagnose dengue fever from normal viral fever.
The dengue fever is high and touches 104 degrees with other symptoms. It is biphasic in nature and comes and goes. Rashes form in nearly 50% cases.
The critical stage may arrive in 5% of total cases where bleeding or hemorrhage in capillaries can cause blood loss. In other cases after the fever subside recovery phase begins which lasts about a week or more.
In few cases reduced consciousness and low heart-rate can occur during the recovery phase.
Home Remedies for Dengue Fever
Papaya Leaf Juice – Home Remedy for Dengue Fever
Home remedies for dengue fever have been effective in preventing infection from becoming critical and relieving the symptoms. Papaya leaf juice is one of the popular home remedies for dengue fever.
It is highly beneficial at the initial stages when dengue has been confirmed through clinical investigations. Take one or leaves of papaya and remove the stem and major central vein.
Crush the leaves and add 10 ml of cold water and grind. Sieve the mixture and discard the pulp and drink two teaspoons of it after every three hours regularly.
The high vitamin C content in the extract boost-up immunity and antioxidants fight back toxins present in the blood. Papian, chymopapain and certain are few compounds found in papaya leaves extract which are prolific in clearing viral infection and relieving its symptoms.
Neem Leaves – Natural Treatment to Treat Dengue Fever
Neem leaves are also wonderful home remedies for dengue fever. A glass full of Neem leaves juice can be consumed twice in a day regularly till symptoms subside.
Take a handful of Neem leaves or more and grind with some water to get a glass full of juice after straining. Consume this twice in a day, Neem leaves not only bring down fever and control symptoms but also increase blood platelet counts and protect blood vessels from hemorrhages.
Holy Basil – Best Remedy for Dengue Fever
Take a glass of water and put it in a bowl and add 15 leaves of the holy basil plant. Boil the mixture till it gets reduced to half and allow it to steep. Strain when it is warm and drink the remaining water.
Repeat twice in a day regularly holy basil tea is a powerful antiviral and an immunity enhancer. It helps in curing fever and suppressing viral growth to prevent complications. Holy basil leaves are old and trusted home remedies for dengue fever and other types of viral fevers.
Coriander Leaves Juice – Home Remedy for Dengue Fever
Coriander leaves juice is not as harsh in taste as Neem leaves juice and works as one of the effective home remedies for dengue fever. Take a bunch of leaves and blend in a blender with some water.
Extract the juice and sieve to remove leaves and stems and drink repeat 2-3 times in the day the high vitamin C content and linolenic acid present in coriander leaves are excellent natural treatment for dengue fever.
Pomegranate and Wheatgrass Juice – Natural Treatment for Dengue Fever
Pomegranate and wheatgrass juice are other remedies that provide safe and effective natural treatment for dengue fever. Drink 1-2 glasses of pomegranate juice during fever and during the recovery phase.
You can also extract the juice of wheatgrass by blending it with water for a few minutes. One or two cups of wheatgrass juice work as wonderful remedy for bringing down fever and relieving symptoms of infection.
Diet for Dengue Fever
Diet for dengue fever shall be rich in nutrition and also supportive for immunity. Green leafy vegetables are good sources of nutrition, antioxidants, fiber and also enhance immunity.
These keep blood purified and increase the supply of nutrition all over the body. The abundance of folic acid in green leafy vegetables makes them the most healthy part of the diet for dengue fever patients during illness and during recovery.
Prefer boiled or steamed veggies during fever. The capacity of the liver gets severely hampered during dengue fever and boiled or steamed veggies are easy on the digestive system.
Soups are excellent ways to consume veggies without losing nutrition and putting pressure on the digestive system. Drink fruit juices preferably citrus fruits of all types.
Fruits rich in vitamin C are a very useful diet for dengue fever. Include banana and oranges in the diet plan; consume whole fruits instead of shake and juice of these fruits.
Consume protein-rich foods during the recovery phase. These provide faster and better recovery from the weaknesses inflicted by infection. Eggs, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, etc. are good sources of protein which provide better recovery.
Drink herbal teas for upper-charged antioxidants and better metabolism. All types of herbal teas 2-3 cups in a day are good for improving the body’s energy and stamina.
Maintain healthy water intake to allow the body to flush accumulated toxins and residue of antibodies and other compounds out of the system.
Avoid spicy, fatty, processed and junk food completely at least for a month even after recovery. These foods lower immunity and slow down metabolism which makes a person prone for another infection by different types of dengue virus.
Dengue Fever Treatment and Prevention
Vaccination is available for dengue fever which is a reliable prevention of dengue fever. The vaccination provides protection from all types of dengue virus.
People who have already been infected get life-long immunity from the type of virus which has infected them. But they do not gain any long term immunity from other types of viruses.
So taking vaccination is never a bad idea, if one is living in a locality affected by dengue spreading mosquitos or have already suffered from an infection.
Protection from a mosquito bite is another reliable prevention of dengue fever. Mosquitos breed in fresh water accumulated in artificial containers like used plastic glasses, desert coolers, plastic bags, etc. keeping surroundings free from water logging even in small quantity prevents the mosquito from breeding, a spray of insecticide around the house also works as good prevention of dengue fever.
Use of mosquito repellent creams and gels protect from a mosquito bite out in the open. The mosquitoes carrying the virus are most active during morning and evening but these can bite even during mid-day.
Wearing clothes that cover most of the body is also good prevention of dengue fever. Use nets around the bed to stay protected from mosquitos at night.
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