DENGUE: Cause Prevention and Medicines

Dengue is a viral disease that is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It can cause high fever, headache, joint pain, rash, bleeding, and sometimes shock and hemorrhage .

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue. The treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms and preventing complications. Some of the treatment options are -

• Drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
• Taking paracetamol or acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, as they can increase bleeding risk.
• Seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen or signs of severe dengue appear, such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, difficulty breathing, or cold skin.
• Getting blood transfusion or intravenous fluids if needed to restore blood volume and prevent shock.

The best way to prevent dengue is to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Some of the prevention measures are --

• Wearing long-sleeved clothes and pants that cover the skin.
• Applying insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin.
• Using mosquito nets, screens, or coils to keep mosquitoes away from sleeping areas.
• Draining stagnant water from containers, tires, buckets, flower pots, or any other places where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
• Spraying insecticides or applying oil to open water sources where mosquitoes can breed.

There is also a vaccine for dengue that is approved for children aged 9-16 years who have had dengue before and live in areas where dengue is common. However, the vaccine is not widely available and may not be suitable for everyone. Consult your doctor before getting the vaccine .

In ancient Indian system of medicines called Ayurveda, there are ways and means to treat Dengue. According to Ayurveda, dengue fever is a type of sannipataja jwara (fever caused by the imbalance of all three doshas) with pitta dominance and rakta dhatu (blood tissue) involvement. The main aim of Ayurvedic treatment for dengue is to balance the doshas, reduce the fever, prevent dehydration, and enhance the immunity.Some of the Ayurvedic medicines that may help in dengue are--

• Shamshamani vati: This is a tablet made from guduchi (giloy) extract, which has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. It helps in reducing fever, pain, and inflammation and boosts the body’s defense mechanism.
• Sudarshan ghan vati: This is a tablet made from various herbs like haritaki, bibhitaki, amalaki, neem, kutki, giloy, etc. It has antipyretic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and detoxifying effects. It helps in lowering fever, eliminating toxins, and improving digestion and liver function.
• Godanti bhasma: This is a calcined powder of gypsum, which has cooling, soothing, and hemostatic effects. It helps in reducing fever, headache, bleeding, and burning sensation.
• Amritottara kashaya: This is a decoction made from giloy, haritaki, vibhitaki, amalaki, ginger, black pepper, etc. It has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and rejuvenating effects. It helps in reducing fever, inflammation, oxidative stress, and weakness.

Some of the Ayurvedic herbs that may help in dengue are (4) (5):

• Papaya leaves: Papaya leaves have anti-viral activity against the dengue virus and help in increasing the platelet count. Juice of papaya leaves can be taken twice a day for 5-7 days.
• Guduchi (giloy): Giloy is a potent herb that enhances immunity and fights infections. It also reduces fever, pain, and inflammation. Infusion of giloy powder can be taken twice a day with honey or sugar candy.
• Amalaki (Indian gooseberry): Amalaki is a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants that boost immunity and scavenge free radicals. It also helps in improving liver function and digestion. Fresh juice of amalaki can be taken once a day with honey or sugar candy.
• Wheatgrass: Wheatgrass is a green superfood that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and blood-purifying properties. It helps in increasing hemoglobin and platelet levels and preventing anemia. Powder or juice of wheatgrass can be taken once a day with water or honey.

Dietary and lifestyle changes for dengue as per Ayurveda are:

• Take light, nutritious, warm, and easily digestible foods like rice porridge, vegetable soup, khichdi, etc.
• Avoid spicy, oily, fried, cold, sour, fermented, and processed foods that can aggravate pitta dosha and cause indigestion.
• Drink plenty of fluids like water, coconut water, herbal teas, fruit juices, etc. to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
• Rest well and avoid strenuous exertion and stressful conditions that can weaken the immunity and aggravate vata dosha.
• Use mosquito nets, screens, coils, or repellents to prevent mosquito bites and transmission of infection.