What is the best treatment for dengue fever

One mosquito bite is powerful enough to give you the unwanted gift of dengue fever and make you sick for days.

Once you are diagnosed with dengue fever, you must start looking for the best possible treatment. In case of mild dengue, consultation and medications are suggested. If the symptoms become worse, you might need hospitalization. In India, dengue cases are on spike every year.

The estimated data by ECDC showed that around 60,112 cases of dengue are reported in India in 2021.

This flu-like illness can affect infants, children, and adults alike. Dengue virus [DENV] is responsible for causing dengue. Most of the DENV infections produce only mild symptoms. However, they can also turn into potentially lethal complications, called severe dengue.

Therefore, the best treatment for dengue fever usually depends on the severity of your symptoms.

Treatment when you have mild dengue symptoms

It may take up to seven days for mild symptoms of dengue to appear after being bitten by a mosquito. Moreover, these symptoms can often be confused with other illnesses that cause fever or muscle aches.

You may ignore the symptoms at first or may take them lightly. However, catching these symptoms early is helpful to get timely treatment. You should consult your doctor if you develop fever or have symptoms of dengue fever.

Symptoms of mild dengue fever may include

High fever
Swollen lymph
Severe headache
Severe muscles and joint pain
Skin rash ( ones appearing between 2 and 5 days after the fever)

Considering these symptoms, your doctor may prescribe fever reducers and pain killers to control the symptoms of muscle aches and pain. Supportive care is generally needed to treat the mild symptoms of dengue fever. Home care is usually recommended in this case. You are advised to:

Drink plenty of fluids

As patients with dengue infections are susceptible to dehydration, it is important to stay hydrated. Drink more plain water, unsweetened fruit juices, or nutritious soups to keep your body hydrated.

In-home remedies to follow

In-home remedies are considered a powerful way to treat dengue fever. These home remedies are good in case you develop mild symptoms of dengue fever.

Tulsi [ Holy Basil]: Tulsi is a powerful ingredient to boost your immunity. Boil this miracle herb with black pepper in water to boost your immunity to fight infections.
Neem [Azadirachta Indica] leaves: Neem leaves are helpful to increase the number of platelets in the blood.
Papaya [ Carica] leaves: This is also considered an ideal home remedy to treat dengue fever. These leaves are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and can help in raising your platelet count.
Methi [ Fenugreek] leaves: Methi leaves are helpful to reduce elevated blood pressure and decrease muscle pain.

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Treatment of severe dengue fever

Dengue may become a life-threatening emergency if the symptoms are severe. At this phase, your fever drops below 38°C and the warning signs manifest. This is called severe dengue as it is a potentially fatal complication as your platelet count may start to reduce. Moreover, internal bleeding or organ damage may also occur.

Hence, the first thing you can do is to watch for the signs and symptoms of severe dengue. Warning signs usually begin within the 24–48 hours after your fever has gone away. Therefore, medical attention is needed immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms of dengue fever:

Severe abdominal pain
Belly pain
Bleeding from nose or gums
Blood in vomiting or stool

So if a patient recognises any of these symptoms, close observation for the next 24-48 hours is required in the hospital.

Tests to diagnose dengue fever:

Virological test: This type of test discerns the elements of the virus. The virus can be detected by testing the virus-produced protein.
Serological test: The test determines antibodies in the blood to confirm a past or recent infection.

Based on the results of these dengue tests, a doctor may start the treatment. The treatment options generally followed in case of severe dengue symptoms are:

Medications

Fever reducers and pain killers are usually given to reduce the symptoms of dengue fever. These medications can help lower fever and ease your pain.

Transfusion to replace blood loss

A patient with dengue fever may require platelet transfusion if his platelet count is less than 10,000. Platelet count in a typical person is between 150,000 and 250,000 per microliter of blood.

It is estimated that around 10 to 20% of dengue patients with severe symptoms see critically low levels of platelet count, particularly below 20,000. In that case, they are likely to receive platelet transfusion.

Moreover, the treatment can also include fluid therapy as dehydration commonly occurs in dengue patients.

Besides these treatment options, dengue prevention is vital to reduce the chances of getting dengue again.

Dengue prevention

In order to protect yourself from dengue infection, you should avoid getting mosquito bites. To prevent mosquito bites, there are several methods you can use.

Lesser skin exposure: Wear long pants and shirts to cover your skin to reduce the chances of bites. Always step out after wearing full clothes to avoid mosquito bites.
Personal hygiene: Take care of your personal hygiene when you are infected with any virus as you are more prone to get other illnesses. Always carry a hand sanitizer to keep germs at bay.
Disinfect stagnant water: Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, prefer to breed in clean, stagnant water. Keep water covered at all times. Moreover, use a proper disinfectant if necessary.

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