Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes. It is found mostly during and shortly after the rainy season in tropical and subtropical areas of:
- Africa
- Southeast Asia and China
- India
- Middle East
- Caribbean and Central and South America
- Australia and the South and Central Pacific
Dengue fever was previously break-bone fever because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain.
What Causes Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever can be caused by any one of four types of dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Infection with one virus does not protect a person against infection with another.
A person can be infected by at least two, if not all four types of the dengue virus at different times during a life span, but only once by the same type.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever:
Sudden sharp fever without cough or cold, acute pain in the body. The dengue fever is generally accompanied by pain in the bones, therefore, this fever is also known as the bone-breaking fever. Severe pain in the forehead, pain in the inner-side of the eyes, muscles and joint pains. Loss of appetite and taste, appearance of small raised spots on the chest, nausea and vomiting, etc.
How Dengue Fever Spreads:
It is transmitted by the viral infected female mosquitoes.
Where these mosquitoes grow: These mosquitoes thrive on the stagnant water in coolers, drums, jars, buckets, tanks, water reservoirs, bottles, etc., where stagnant water is found. It is, therefore, necessary that the water collected around the houses after rains should not be allowed to stagnate.
Where it is not possible to let the water out, insecticides or burnt mobile oil should be sprinkled in the water. Kerosene oil or mobil oil creates a thin layer on the surface of the water which kills larvae. The other anti-mosquito measures could also be taken, viz., the use of mosquito nets, anti-mosquito creams, repellants and burning of agarbattis, etc. In the villages, the mosquitoes grow in the pens, wet, dark and humid places. In addition, full sleeve shirts and full length trousers should be used so that minimum bare part of the body is exposed.
Natural and Home Remedies for Dengue Fever:
- Neem leaves, Neem Oil are a great purifying agent and should be applied on a damp warm cloth in dosages of between 15 to 60 grammes 2-3 times daily. It should be noted that usage should be restricted in both males and females seeking pregnancy.
- Drink as much water as you can in order to replace fluid loss. It will also help to bring down body temperature.
- Avoid eating solid foods until the fever is gone. You can replace the foods by drinking plenty of distilled water and/or juices.
- The leaves of the coriander can be taken in the form of a tonic to reduce the fevers in dengue.
- Kakamachi is syrup like product that can be consumed as a soothing, cooling drink that can expel negative toxins such as those that build up during an attack of dengue from the digestive system and ultimately purify it. A cup twice daily is the recommended dosage.
- Fruits rich in vitamin C like amla (embellica officinalis) are advised as vitamin C helps in better absorption of iron.
- Chyavanprash can be taken as it is an immunobooster, blood purifier and increases blood count.
- Hogweed is used to bring down temperatures. Hogweed produces plenty of perspiration which flushes the toxins and brings the fever down.
- The seeds of hermal are powdered and taken as either an infusion or as a decoctin to treat intermittent and recurrent fevers that are observed in dengue.
- Boiled tulsi that is basil leaves served in a warm drink like tea can help prevent an outbreak of dengue. This bitter and pungent herb has all the properties that strengthen the internal system against fever.
- 10-15 basil leaves should be chewed twice a day or these can be boiled in 200ml water on low heat. When half the quantity is left it can be taken 2-3 times a day. This strengthens the body’s defence mechanism.
- Mix 360 mg of Shunthi Churna with 125 mg of Hinguleshwar and now take this mixture at least 4 times daily, you may take with tea or hot water. If case the temperature of the patient rises beyond 104°F (40°C), then you may apply cold pad, on the forehead till the temperature subsides.
- Papaya juice is a natural cure for dengue fever. The juice of Papaya leaf is a sure cure for platellete deficiency.
- Use Tulasi leaf ten pieces and one black pepper. This should be the proportion. Grind it and make pea size pills, use it with water.
- The root of the cassia tree is used as a tonic for reducing dengue fever.
- Chirayata has tremendous medicinal properties in the reduction of fevers. It is used for remedying the convulsions that accompany fevers in dengue.
- Dhatura is the Ayurvedic version of the belladonna. Its leaves have potency in reducing the seriousness of the dengue fevers. However, the dosage must not exceed 2 decigrams, or it will lead to severe negative symptoms.
- An infusion of the Indian mallow is used as an efficacious treatment for reducing the dengue fevers.
- Fenugreek leaves are taken as herbal tea in order to reduce fevers. This drink acts as a soothing and cleansing tea for the human system.
- Bloodwort is a traditionally used remedy for all types of fevers in Ayurvedic medicine. Bloodwort when used in the form of a hot infusion brings out sweat, which expels the toxins from the body and reduces the fever.