Dengue

Dengue is an acute febrile illness caused by a virus classified as arbovirus and transmitted by mosquitoes of the species- Aedes aegypti. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries especially in coastal areas. It is generally an epidemic disease and a single episode does not ensure immunity from further attacks.

The infection may range from mild to moderate to severe and may prove to be fatal due to supervening complications. There are two types of dengue,

Dengue bonebreak fever and

Dengue haemorrhagic fever

Although the initial clinical features are essentially similar, the first type of dengue is characterised by severe bone pains and back pain which is most intense and debilitating. In the haemorrhagic type, there is an acute sensitivity reaction of the host to the virus which leads to widespread coagulation of blood within the blood vessels and subsequent damage to the vessel wall and bleeding.

Initially the patient may experience headache and malaise which is followed by fever and severe bodyache and backache which can be immobilising. There is pain and redness in the eyes which should immediately raise a suspicion of dengue as eye pain is generally uncommon in other viral infections . Associated symptoms may be nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, a diffuse rash especially starting in the extremities and then spreading elsewhere, severe weakness and glandular involvement. The platelates and the white blood cell counts drop and haemorrhages under the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract or the eye may occur. Eventually this may proceed to circulatory failure and prove to be fatal.

Diagnosis is established by serological tests.

A positive rapid dengue NS1 antigen confirms dengue infection as also rising and significant titres of IgM antibodies.

A complete blood count is mandatory as it reflects on the severity of the infection. Repeating the CBC offers a prognostic aid and stable and then rising values of platelates and white blood cells demonstrates that the infection has been checked and the patient is on the road to recovery.

Liver enzymes, particularly SGPT and SGOP and PT-INR help in assessing the effect of the disease process on the liver.

There is no specific treatment and management is largely symptomatic. Relief of pain and replenishment of lost blood, either whole or platelates, is advocated. Prophylactic use of antibiotics is the standard line of treatment.

Prevention is largely achieved by regularly spraying insecticides on breeding places of mosquitos as also by using a mosquito net and keeping domestic water reservoirs carefully closed.

In such a scenario Homeopathic medicines have been found to be very advantageous in that they boost the natural immunity of the patient which helps in fighting off the virus. The medicine has a combined antifebrile, antibiotic and analgesic effect. Since the healing powers of the human being are stimulated , it is able to vanquish the virus on its own and not due to any external aid and thus the resultant side-effects like weakness, uneasiness, acidity etc are prevented. The patient recovers quickly, the complications of this deadly disease are averted and normal life resumes faster.