All you Wanted to know about Dengue Symptoms ,Its Causes & Treatment
06-10-2016 | Posted By: Admin | 9387 View(s)
Dengue is one of the diseases which has become fairly common these days, and we come across numerous cases of dengue now and then. This article will deal with all issues pertaining to Dengue Symptoms, Its causes and what best we can do to prevent the disease.
What causes Dengue?
According to The World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the bite of infected Aedes female mosquitoes which comprises of 4 distinct types of dengue viruses namely DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3, and DEN 4.
Dengue fever cannot be transmitted directly from one person to the other. It is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites anyone with dengue virus in their blood. It falls under the category of chronic illness. People possessing a weak immune system are at a greater risk of suffering from this disease. Dengue can prove to be deadly if not treated on time. This disease is slowly and steadily spreading across the globe.
Dengue fever is especially quite common during the rainy season as a large number of people get infected with the virus. However, the good thing is that in 99.79 % of reported cases of Dengue, patients have fully recovered following the doctor’s advice. In most of the cases, hospitalisation may not be necessary for Dengue Treatment and. Hospitalisation is only on the recommendation of the doctor. So If you have symptoms of dengue, visit the nearest doctor/hospital or health centre.
Dengue Symptoms
Any symptoms which one is not accustomed to must not be taken lightly. If any illness takes place, then the doctor must be consulted immediately, and tests should be done at once. Some of the Dengue symptoms are listed below.
• One of the most prominent Dengue Symptoms is that the Blood Platelet count falls. If it is not controlled and continues to fall then it can lead to bleeding, and it may even cause haemorrhage. As a cure to this, reinfusion of the platelets into the patient is a must.
• Excessive fall of the blood pressure is or can be one of the dengue Symptoms. If a patient is diagnosed with dengue, he will have several blood spots on his skin, and this might even lead to the leakage of the plasma cells. Extreme dengue fever can also cause harm to the liver, lungs or heart. If this continues along with low blood pressure, it may even cause death.
Some of the Typical Dengue Symptoms Include
• High fever
• Skin rashes or Red Spots- Skin rashes are yet another Dengue symptoms. It occurs 2 to 5 days after the occurrence of the fever. At times, some rashes with small dots named petechiae may also occur anywhere all over the body if the fever persists. Itchy palm is another reaction of dengue.
• A severe headache, backache
• Vomiting/Nausea
• Severe Joint Pain
• Pain in eye movement
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Loss of Appetite
• Mild Bleeding
• Bruising easily
Dengue has a severe form known as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) which can be identified by the following symptoms- bleeding (haemorrhage) in the body, fever (lasts 2-7 days), rashes, black stool, severe abdominal pain and vomiting. DHF is fatal and requires constant care as the patient may be at a critical stage.
When infected with Dengue, the patient feels weak and so is not able to digest food, which makes the patient even weaker. But, if medicines are taken on time, and a healthy diet routine is followed, the patient can get fully cured.
How is Dengue Different from any other Flu?
Most of the people fall ill mostly during the monsoon season. Regular fever is usually caused because of some bacterial infection or maybe because of some simple virus. Dengue is completely different from any regular flu and is even more dangerous than any of them. This needs an immediate cure, or it may prove fatal as well. After the mosquito bite, it takes 3 to 14days to show up its symptoms and children under the age of 10 years may be affected even more with dengue which may even lead to haemorrhage for them. It causes acute abdominal pain, affects the blood circulatory system and can also cause bleeding.
Dengue Treatment
As of today, there is no cure for this disease. Dengue is usually diagnosed by studying the symptoms of the patient as well as through the blood test reports. Patients are often given Acetaminophen to reduce fever and analgesics to tone down the pain. Patients should refrain from taking Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac Combiflam, etc. as they may increase blood complications. Patients should Resort to sponging with cold water during fever
Doctors advise keeping the body hydrated by increasing the intake of fluids such as water, glucose, coconut water, and juices. Within 24 hours, if the patient starts feeling worse, then they must be admitted to a hospital for proper care and treatment.No vaccination is available for dengue as of now. If the patient diagnosed with dengue is not looked after immediately and does not follow a strict diet, the person might face severe health problems.
Tests for Dengue
While dengue fever may be diagnosed clinically, laboratory tests can serve to confirm or secure a definitive diagnosis. Laboratory tests for dengue can be broadly categorised into definitive tests and nonspecific tests. Definitive tests include nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen assay or dengue serology, while a complete blood count is an example of a nonspecific test. Most Common Definitive Tests are-Dengue NS1 antigen Test & Dengue IgM/IgG serological Test.
Prevention of Dengue
“Prevention is the best cure.”
Considering the fact that there is no vaccination or any drugs available for Dengue Treatment, we can only prevent the disease from spreading. Taking simple measures in our everyday lives can help us prevent a life-threatening illness. Follow these steps to avoid breeding of mosquitos around your neighbourhood:
1. Hamper the collection of rainwater in empty containers or puddles near your house. Drain the accumulated water or cover the containers with Lids.
2. Shield your windows and doors by installing screens or wire mesh to obstruct the entry of mosquitos inside the house.
3. Wear full-sleeved, light-coloured clothes. Wear clothing that covers your entire body, especially full sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes.
4. If water is collected in coolers, pour kerosene oil to kill the possibility of mosquito larvae breeding inside it and clean them on a regular basis.
5. Stagnant water is the most favourable environment for mosquito breeding. Ensure proper cleaning of water tanks and pools. Don’t let mosquitoes breed in and around your home.
6. Dispose of all junk and unused containers from your premises which can hold water.
How to Treat Dengue Fever effectively at Home?
-Maintain a Mosquito-free and Hygienic Environment
While treating dengue patients at home, it is essential to have a mosquito-free environment so that the patient does not get further bitten by mosquitoes. It is because the infection can be transmitted to others via mosquitoes.To avoid mosquito to enter the house, you should use windows and door screens. Use a mosquito net commonly referred to as Macchardani while sleeping.
–Use Mosquito Repellents
Apply mosquito repellents on the exposed part of your skin to safeguard yourself against mosquito bites. Mosquito repellent patch is another feasible alternative.
Note: Children should stay away from the handling of repellants. Adults should apply the repellant to the child’s skin. Also, adults must ensure not to use repellents on children under two months old.
-Get Proper Rest
Dengue fever causes weakness and lethargy. Thus, it is important for a dengue patient to get plenty of bed rest so that the body gets to rest and can recover quickly.
-Drink Plenty of Fluids
Drinking lots of water is the first and foremost thing that Doctors ask the Dengue patients to do. Dengue patient should be motivated to drink plenty of fluids such as water, oral rehydration solutions and fruit juice to prevent dehydration.fluids which are rich in nutrients like coconut water, orange juice, lime juice, sugar cane juice, pineapple juice, strawberry juice, guava juice, kiwi juice, ORS, etc.
If a patient takes fluids adequately, his or her chances of getting hospitalised are minimised. Men and women, between the ages of 19 to 30 years should drink at least 3 litres and 2.7 litres of water per day, respectively. Boys and girls should drink at least 2.7 and 2.2 litres of water every day, respectively. For infants, the fluid intake should be 0.7- 0.8 litres per day.
Consuming lots of liquids helps to remove the toxins from the body. Taking delicious fluids such as coconut water, lime juice and orange juice can curb these cravings.
• Lemon Juice- Take a glass of warm water and add the juice of half a lemon to it. If you desire, you can also add some honey to the lemon juice for better taste. Stir thoroughly and drink two to three times a day to keep yourself hydrated.
• Coconut Water- Dengue fever often leads to dehydration. Coconut water is a natural source of water and is packed with essential minerals and electrolytes, which keeps the body healthy. Consuming it on a regular basis helps in regulating the fluid levels in the body. Hence, you must include coconut water to your diet to treat dengue effectively.
• Honey with Lukewarm Water- Honey contains plenty of antioxidants that keep the body healthy. Mix one tablespoon of honey in a cup of lukewarm water and stir well. Drink this healthy mixture three to four times a day. Drink it once in the morning on an empty stomach, then an hour before lunch and dinner. You can also drink honey water in the evening.
• Beetroot and Carrot Juice- During dengue, the levels of blood platelet in the body goes down. Beetroot and carrot help raise the platelet count within a few days. Both beetroot and carrot are high in natural antioxidant and haemostatic properties, which helps to lower the risk of infection and other diseases, boosts the immunity and keeps the body healthy. Take a glass of fresh carrot juice and add three tablespoons of beetroot juice to it. Drink this twice to thrice a day to increase platelet count.
• Apple and Lemon Juice- Apple is without any doubt one of the healthiest fruits in the world. And that is why, it is said, ‘An apple a day keeps the Doctor away.’ In a glass of fresh apple juice, mix in juice of half a lemon. Drink this four to five times a day to keep your body hydrated.
• Fruit Juice- Vitamin C is highly effective in strengthening the body’s immune system .Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant that boosts collagen production and keeps the immune system healthy. Fruits like pineapple, guava, orange and kiwi help in stimulating the production of lymphocytes which fights the viral infection. Hence, you must drink plenty of fruit juice throughout the day.
-Take care of your Diet
Dengue patients should be given those foods which are easily digestible. Eating a nutritious diet is one of the best tips to treat dengue fever. There are certain foods which can accelerate the recovery from dengue fever. Some of the foods that should be consumed by the dengue patients are listed below.
Best Foods for Dengue Patients:
1.Oranges
Oranges are loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins, especially Vitamin C which is known to boost the body’s immunity. Also, oranges are high in fibre which aids the digestion process. Thus, add this juicy fruit to your daily diet to get quick relief from dengue fever.
2.Porridge
Porridge, also known as cereal or dalia (in India) is high in fibre and nutrients which aid the digestion process and also provide strength to the body to fight the disease. Thus, Dengue patients should eat a lot of porridge if they want to hit the road to recovery soon.
3 Herbal Tea
Herbal Teas helps in reducing the symptoms of dengue fever. You can choose from a wide variety of flavours such as peppermint, ginger or cardamom. Herbal teas have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help in reducing the dengue fever.
4.Neem Leaves
Neem leaves have medicinal properties, and thereby they help in restricting the growth and spread of dengue virus type-2 replication.
5.Papaya
Papaya leaves contain vitamin C that boosts the immune system, and the antioxidants present in papaya leaves help reduce the oxidative stress and also eliminate excess toxins in the blood. At that time, people consumed the juices extracted from the papaya leaves to cure dengue fever. Drink a glass of papaya juice on a daily basis to cure dengue.
There is no denying the fact that papaya is one of the most effective remedies for dengue. Papaya is a traditional medicine for curing dengue. Earlier, when medicines and hospitals were not available in the remote areas, papaya leaves were used to cure dengue fever. Many studies have shown that papaya seed is toxic for the Aedes mosquito. Papain, an enzyme found in papain, helps in increasing the blood platelet in the body. Also, papaya leaves help in curing dengue fever.
Here is a Recipe you can try.
• Take ½ medium-sized papaya, ½ cup fresh orange juice/ pineapple juice, two teaspoons fresh lemon juice, two teaspoons honey, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper powder, ½ cup water and salt to taste. Bring all the ingredients to the table and start peeling papaya. Remove its seeds and chop it into small pieces. Now, put papaya pieces, lemon juice, sugar, black pepper, water and salt into the food processor. Blend until smooth. Add honey and drink.
6.Soup
Soup helps in relieving joint pain and is good for bowel movement and digestion which makes it one of the best foods for treating the symptoms of dengue.
7.Banana
Bananas are full of carbohydrates and fibre which helps in keeping the body fit and active. Eat one banana daily to feel energetic and active.
8.Green Tea
Green Tea is full of antioxidants which help in boosting the immunity of the body. Drink a cup of green tea daily to get quick relief from dengue.
9. High Protein Foods:
Foods which are rich in protein like chicken, eggs, fish, milk, cheese, soy, beans, yoghurt, almonds, oats, broccoli, peanuts, are usually recommended for the patients diagnosed with dengue as they combat the dengue viruses the most. Protein helps in quick recovery and also contributes to retaining all the essential nutrients which are lost during the disease.
• Eggs- Eggs are among the healthiest foods on the planet. Eggs are packed with minerals, vitamins, protein, healthy fats and antioxidants that keep the body healthy. You can eat scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, or omelette for breakfast. This is one of the best foods for dengue patients.
• Chicken- Chicken is also rich in protein, and so you can consume chicken once a day to load up on protein. Chicken breast is considered one of the healthiest protein-rich foods. So, eat boiled chicken, or you can also have chicken soup to add protein to your diet.
• Almonds- Almonds are full of nutrients, including vitamin E, fibre, manganese and magnesium. Soak four to five almonds in water and keep it overnight. Eat in the morning on an empty stomach. Almonds are one of the best foods for dengue patients.
• Broccoli- Broccoli is packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, protein, fibre and potassium. You can add broccoli to your salad to add protein to your diet.
• Oats- Oats are loaded with magnesium, manganese, fibre, thiamin and other nutrients which boost the immune system and also provide the body with the essential nutrients. Eat a cup of cooked oats daily. Oats is one of the tastiest and best foods for dengue patients.
10.Vegetarian Diet
After the intake of lots of fluid, the next thing that is usually recommended to dengue patients is all types of vegetables, especially the green leafy ones. But none of the vegetables should be overcooked or else it may lose all its nutrients. Here are some vegetables you should eat when having dengue symptoms to cure dengue in a quick span of time.
• Kale- Kale contains vitamin C, antioxidants, beta-carotene and phytonutrients; all of these nutrients are known to fight many diseases including cancer. Kale is a green vegetable that is considered one of the best foods for dengue patients.
• Spinach- Spinach is a healthy green vegetable packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It is also a rich source of manganese, folate, iron, potassium, calcium, vitamins A, B2, C and K.
• Broccoli- Broccoli is packed with protein, fibre, vitamin C and folate which keeps your digestive system healthy and prevents many diseases.
• Asparagus- Asparagus has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, all of which help in fighting free radicals that cause damage to cells in your body.
• Celery- Celery is a low-calorie food which is loaded with essential nutrients and minerals. It helps to improve digestion, reduces bad cholesterol and boosts the immune system.
11.No Oily food or Spicy Food
Refrain from Oily or spicy foods. If you are a dengue patient, you should say ‘No’ to all the spicy and oily dishes. Oily and spicy foods can cause difficulty in digestion and also increase the body temperature. Hence, you should stay away from oily or spicy foods such as Fried Chips, Fried Rice, Chilly Potato, etc. Also, you should ditch junk food for some time. Do not consume a burger, pizza, French fries, soft drinks and other unhealthy foods.
For the most part, strengthen your immune system by taking a balanced diet and drink lots of water throughout the day. Patients must keep themselves amply hydrated. Take a lot of liquids like ORS Solution, coconut water, fruit juices, etc. In case, any of your family members is diagnosed with dengue, don’t fret. There is no special medicine for Dengue treatment. Don’t go for self-medication. At the very onset of Fever-Should you exhibit any Dengue Symptoms, do not delay and make it point to visit a Good Physician as soon as possible. Stay Healthy, Stay Protected.
