Dengue Fever Homeopathic Medicines

Dengue fever is also known as break-bone fever. It is a viral disease caused by 1 to 4 types of the dengue fever virus i.e. DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, DEN-4. It is important to note that when a person recovers from dengue infection they develop a long-term (not always lifetime) immunity to that type, but not the other 3 types. If the person is infected again with a different virus type, they may develop the more severe form of the illness known as dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Facts about Dengue

1. The only female mosquito transmits the virus.
2. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the carrier of the dengue virus.
3. These mosquitoes can be easily distinguished as they are larger in size and have black and white stripes on their body, they are sometimes called tiger mosquitoes.
4. Mosquito is most active during daylight hours.
5. Mosquitoes rest indoor in closets, behind curtains, and other dark places.
6. Breeding sites are mainly around the home in containers that can hold water.
7. Mosquito rarely flies more than 200 meters from its breeding site.
8. Eggs of the mosquito capable of transmitting dengue are drought resistant and can last over 12 months in containers that have previously held water.
9. Common breeding places include pot plant saucers, old tires, and any formerly rain container.
10. It is spread by the bite of an infected dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti species). This fever occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, including India.

Symptoms of Dengue

1. It usually takes 3 to 14 days (commonly 4-7 days) between getting bitten by a dengue
2. infected mosquito and becoming sick.
3. It is commonly seen in older children and adults.
4. It is characterized by the abrupt onset of high fever lasting 3-7 days. Along with this patient has a severe frontal headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joints pains.

Other symptoms are

1. Loss of appetite
2. Nausea
3. Vomiting
4. Diarrhea
5. Blanching rash, over the chest and upper limbs
6. Minor bleeding
7. Pain in muscles
8. Pain in joints
9. At times mild hemorrhagic manifestations such red patches, petechiae, mucous membrane bleeding, can be seen

Another symptom that often follows a pattern includes brief remission of fever after the third day followed by rising in temperature again after 1-2 days. The fever lasts for 5-7 days after which the recovery is usually complete.

These are called acute symptoms which at times do not need any supervision and may resolve themselves. It may last up to 10 days. Some people may experience repeated episodes of fever. Sometimes full recovery is slow and associated with weakness and depression. It is rarely fatal.

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

It is most commonly seen in children under 15 years of age but can also occur in adults. It begins with the same symptoms as dengue fever but is followed by rapid deterioration, bleeding, and cardiovascular collapse 2-5 days later. It can be fatal.

A very important thing is to be noted that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be used as they can affect blood clotting.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is diagnosed on the following basis –

1. Isolation of the dengue virus from serum, plasma, leucocytes (white blood cells).
2. Presence of dengue virus antigen in serum samples by ELISA.
3. Presence of viral genomic sequences in serum or CSF samples by Polymerase chain reaction(PCR).

Treatment of Dengue using Homeopathic medicines

Homeopathic treatment is holistic and individualized and the selection of homeopathic medicines depends upon the individual response to infection, the severity of the disease, and clinical presentation of the case.

Homeopathy has the power to reduce the intensity of fever,  headache, body ache, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, and other associated symptoms and, also reduce the probability of developing shock, hemorrhage, and other complications.

It can act as a preventive measure as well as a curative for persons already suffering from dengue.

Medicinal management

There are two types of dengue fever-

1. Simple dengue fever
2. Dengue hemorrhagic fever

Simple dengue fever

In simple Dengue, fever there is no mortality, have a self-limiting course and the patient usually recovers within five to seven days.  The most useful medicines for this type of dengue fever are given below.

1- Arsenic album

This medicine has a high temperature. Periodicity is well marked in this remedy. It has intermittent fevers. These paroxysms are incomplete, with marked exhaustion. It has cold sweats. It has complete exhaustion. Along with fever, it has delirium which worse after midnight.

There is great restlessness. Great heat around 3.am. This remedy has symptoms that are

Symptoms Worse

1. In wet weather,
2. After midnight,
3. From cold drinks or food.
4. Right side

Symptoms Better

1. From heat
2. From warm drinks

Dosage:  Give 200 potency 3 times a day for 4 days, till improvement.

2- Bryonia

This remedy has a fever in which the pulse is hard, full, tense, and quick. It has chills with external coldness. The patient has a dry cough also. The patient has internal heat. The patient has sour sweat after slight exertion. There is easy, profuse perspiration.

Symptoms Worse

1. Any motion
2. Cannot sit up gets faint.
3. Eating
4. Exertion
5. Hot weather
6. Morning
7. Touch
8. Warmth

Symptoms Better

1. Cold things
2. Lying on the painful side
3. Pressure
4. Rest

Dosage:  potency 30 give 3 times a day for 5 days till the improvement.

3- Eupatorium perfoliatum

Perspiration relieves all symptoms except headaches. Chill between 7 and 9.am., preceded by thirst, great soreness, and aching in bones. There is nausea, vomiting of bile at the end of chills or hot stage. There is a throbbing headache. Knows chill is coming on because he cannot drink enough.

Symptoms Worse

Periodically

Symptoms Better

By conversation

Dosage:  Give 200 potency 3 times a day for 4 days, till improvement.

4- 8Rhus Toxicodendron

The patient is restless, There is intense trembling. The tongue is dry and brown. Fever is associated with loose bowels and great restlessness. There are intermittent chills, with a dry cough and restlessness. During heat, there are rashes and intense itching. The patient is chilly as if cold water was poured over him followed by heat and inclination to stretch the limbs.

Symptoms Worse

1. At night
2. Cold wet rainy weather and after rain
3. During rest
4. During sleep
5. When lying on the back or on the right side

Symptoms Better

1. Warmth
2. Dry weather
3. Motion
4. Walking
5. Change of position
6. Rubbing
7. Warm application
8. From stretching our limbs

Dosage:  200 potencies for 4 days, till improvement.

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

Another type of dengue fever is dengue hemorrhagic fever. Homeopathic Medicines for Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever is given below.

1- Crotalus horridus

It is one of the important remedies for malignant fevers of a hemorrhagic which is putrid character. There is cold sweat in this remedy. The patient has bloody sweat.

Symptoms Worse

1. Coming on in warm weather
2. Damp and wet weather.
3. Evening and in the morning
4. On awaking
5. Open-air
6. Right side

Dosage:  Give 200 potency 3 times a day for 4 days, till improvement.

2- Ferrum metallcum

There is the general coldness of extremities, head and face hot. Chill at 4.am. There is heat in palms and soles. There is profuse, debilitation sweat.

Symptoms Worse

1. After cold washing and overheating
2. Midnight
3. Sitting still
4. While sweating

Symptoms Better

walking slowly

Dosage:  potency 30 give 3 times a day for 5 days till the improvement

 3- Ipecac

This remedy is associated with intermittent fever, which is irregular in various cases. Slightest chill with much heat, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty in respiration

Symptoms Worse

1. from moist warm wind
2. lying down

Dosage:  200 potencies 3 times a day for 5 days till the improvement

4- Lachesis

1. Chill in the back, feet icy cold, hot flushes, and hot perspiration. There is intermittent fever.
2. Symptoms Worse
3. After sleep
4. Closing eyes
5. Hot drinks.
6. Left side, warm bath.
7. Pressure or constriction

Symptoms Better

1. After appearance discharges
2. Warm applications

Dosage:  200 potencies 3 times a day for 5 days till the improvement.

When a Person Need to be admitted to Hospital

Hospital management is required in Dengue fever when a person suffers from any of the following symptoms.

• There is bleeding from any site
• Persistent high-grade fever.
• Severe abdominal pain, refusal to take orally or poor intake, persistent vomiting, and signs of dehydration.
• Increase heart rate, postural hypotension, narrow pulse pressure.
• Restlessness, seizures, excessive crying in infant behavioral changes. severe headache.
• Shock– which includes clammy skin, hypotension, narrow pulse pressure.

Prevention from dengue

Barrier sprays such as outdoor barrier surface spray or similar can be purchased from markets. This is a residual surface treatment for use in dark sheltered areas or dark objects inside houses such as behind cupboards, under tables and chairs, and behind or on curtains.

Personal protective measures

• Avoid areas of likely mosquito
• Use protective clothing in outdoor situations including covering feet, legs, and arms.
• Loose, light-colored clothing is best.
• Use personal repellents.
• Use electric insecticide devices using repellent treated pads in indoor or enclosed areas.
• Use mosquito coils, or candle heated or gas-operated devices using insecticide-treated pads for a veranda.
• Empty and apply the surface spray to any old unused container that has held water e.g. tires,
• plastic containers, black sheet plastic, or pot plant drip trays.
• Avoid using saucers or drip trays under pot plants. Wipe their inner surface firmly with a cloth several times or fill with sand, or apply the surface spray.
• Empty birdbaths and pet drinking water at least weekly and wipe it.
• Cover and completely seal septic tanks, rainwater tanks, or other large water storage
• Dispose of garbage around the yard that may collect water.
• Ensure roof gutters drain freely.
• Fishponds with fishes do not breed mosquitoes.