Dengue Fever

All you wanted to know about Dengue
TNN, Sep 8, 2010, 12.00am IST

Dengue fever is a very grave disease and self-medication should not be done. Medical attention is extremely important. Dr S P S Bakshi shares critical information about the disease that WHO declared as pandemic...

Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Classic dengue fever, or 'break bone fever,' is characterised by acute onset of high fever of 3–14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.

Symptoms include:
- Frontal headache
- Retro-Orbital pain
- Myalgia
- Arthralgia
- Haemorrhagic Manifestations
- Rash
- Low white blood cell count
- Gastritis

The patient may also complain of anorexia and nausea. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about a 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.

Prevention of Dengue Fever
- There is no tested and approved vaccine for dengue.
- Primary prevention of dengue is mosquito control.

Dengue fever and Homeopathy medicines
In Homoeopathy, we have a group of medicines which can be taken based on different symptoms of fever in different stages. The selection of homoeopathic medicines depends upon the individual response to infection and virulence of the virus. It is always better that medication is taken under the supervision of a homeopathic consultant for appropriate selection of medicine for dengue fever.

As there are no conclusive evidences of cure with Homoeopathic medicines it is always advisable to be in touch with the Hospital in case Dengue has been diagnosed as the medicines can only be given on the basis of the current stage of the fever for which certain diagnostic procedures are also important. Homoeopathy acts as an effective supportive treatment in the different stages of the fever.

The following can be given for treatment of Dengue:
Aconite, Arsenic Album, Baptisia, Belladonna, Bryonia, China officinalis, Eupatorium Perf, Gelsemium, Ipecac, Nux Vomica, Rhus Tox

Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever
- Use mosquito repellents.
- Discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
- Keep the water stores clean and closed.
- Keep yourself well covered when outside.

Myth
Dengue can only be contracted once.

Fact
There are four strains of the dengue virus. People who have already been infected by one particular strain will not be affected by that strain again but they may still be at risk of being infected by other strains, so it is never safe for someone to assume that he or she is already immune.