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How To Prevent And Treat Dengue: 6 Home Remedies

How to Prevent and Treat Dengue: 6 Home Remedies

Dr. Gargi Sharma And Dr. Simran Saini | Updated: July 19, 2016 12:59 IST
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What is Dengue fever and how is it different from regular flu

Regular flu may be due to a simple viral or bacterial infection, amongst other
possible causes. Dengue is a more dangerous form and needs a hands-on
approach. The World Health Organisation says, "Dengue is a viral infection
transmitted by the bite of an infectedfemale Aedes mosquito. There are four
distinct serotypes of the dengue virus (DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4).
The symptoms of the illness only appear 314 days after the mosquito bite
and not immediately. Dengue fever is a flu-like illness that affects infants,
young children and adults alike." A more severe manifestation of this illness,
Dengue hemorrhagic fever, tends to affect children under 10 years of age
which can cause abdominal pain, bleeding and affect the circulatory system.
The number of dengue cases have increased drastically in the last few years.
According to local health authorities, there have been about 1,700 cases
recorded in the city so far this year, mostly in recent weeks, the same amount
as recorded for all of 2010. This makes it one of the worst outbreaks in the last
five years.

Signs and symptoms to look out for

A drop in platelet count is a characteristic symptom of dengue fever. The most
common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and skin
rash. Sometimes, these symptoms may be confused with flu. If you
experience the following over a few days, consult a doctor 1. Sudden, high fever
2. Severe headaches
3. Pain behind the eyes
4. Severe joint and muscle pain
5. Fatigue and exhaustion
6. Nausea and vomiting
7. Skin rash
8. Low blood pressure

Diagnosis and treatment

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test. There are no
particularmedicines or antibiotics to cure the same since it's caused by a virus
but you are advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids. There is currently no
vaccine for dengue.
Delhi and many parts of India are already reporting cases of Dengue. In this
situation, many people are turning to some natural remedies to control this
dreaded disease. We bring you some of the most effective home remedies as
shared by health experts and doctors.

1) Giloy: Giloy is a very important herb in Ayurveda. It helps in maintaining

the metabolic rate, strengthening the immune system and protects your body
against infections, explains Dr. Gargi Sharma from New Delhi. She
recommends that you boil the stems and serve it as a herbal drink. You can
also add few Tulsi leaves in the drink.

2) Papaya Leaves: "It helps in increasing the platelet count and reduces the
symptoms of fever like body ache, chills, feeling low, getting tired easily and
nausea," says Dr. Gargi. You can crush the leaves and consume or drink
the juice which helps in flushing out the toxins.
3) Fenugreek Leaves: These leaves are known to reduce fever and act as a
sedative to ease pain and promote more restful sleep for patients. You can
soak the leaves in water and then drink it or you can get methipowder and mix
it with water and have it.
4) Goldenseal: Goldenseal is a herb whose dried root is used to make
medicine. It has the ability to clear up the symptoms of dengue fever very
quickly and eliminate the virus from the body. It works like papaya leaves. You
use it in the same way like papaya leaves either by crushing and chewing or
by juicing it.
5) Turmeric: It is also known to boost metabolism and helps in making the
healing process faster. You can consume turmeric along with milk.
6) Tulsi Leaves and Black Pepper: Dr. Simran Saini from New Delhi
suggests to consume a drink made by boiling Tulsi leaves and adding about
2grams of black pepper to it. This drink helps in building your immunity and
acts as an antibacterial element.
How to prevent dengue
Dengue doesn't spread from person to person. You can prevent the risk of the
disease by keeping your surroundings clean and wearing protective clothing.
The dengue mosquito typically attacks during the day and some experts say
the favourite spots are below the elbow and below the knee. They are
generally active between the time period of August-October and do not breed
when the temperature falls. Reduce the mosquito habitat by removing
standing water around your house. You could turn to natural repellents like
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, Lavender, Neem Oil and Cinnamon Oil to protect
yourself against mosquito bites. There are a number of plants that have

mosquito repellent properties like feverfew, citronella, catnip and lavender.

Place them around your house to keep mosquitoes away. Even herbs like
garlic, lemongrass, basil, peppermint, rosemary may help.
About the Authors
Dr. Gargi Sharma is a Wellness Expert who runs the Aayna Clinic in Mehrauli,
New Delhi. Dr. Simran Saini is a Nutritionist at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar
Bagh, New Delhi.
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