Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species
(Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.
Almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue.
The transmission of dengue takes place through the mosquito bite as mentioned above and also when a pregnant woman already infected with dengue passes the virus to her foetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth.
The symptoms of dengue are head-ache, high fever, rash, eye pains, Muscle, joint, or bone pain, Nausea and vomiting and unusual bleeding (nose or gum bleed, small red spots under the skin, or unusual bruising.
So how to combat the dengue fever? In order to recover from dengue, a person should have small and frequent meals every 2-3 hours. The patient must consume plenty of fluids and should include the following foods in their diet.
Papaya Leaf is rich in enzymes like papain and chymopapain, which aid digestion, prevent bloating and other digestive disorders.30ml of fresh papaya leaf juice helps in increasing the platelet count and, therefore, in the treatment of dengue.
It reduces the feeling of tiredness and fatigue. Being a rich source of iron, pomegranate stands out to be quite beneficial for the blood. It also helps in maintaining a normal blood platelet count which is essential to recover from dengue. Pomegranate has been used since the ancient times for its healthy and medicinal properties
Dengue generally results in dehydration. Thus, it is immensely beneficial to consume coconut water, which is loaded with electrolytes and vital nutrients such as potassium.
It helps to boost immunity, metabolism and with its antiseptic properties it helps in overall healing.
Fenugreek is known to induce sleep and acts like a mild tranquilizer that aids in easing pain. It is also known to stabilizing the high fever that is a common dengue symptom.
Oranges are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, orange and its juice also help in treating and eliminating the dengue virus.
Broccoli is a rich source of vitamin K which helps to increase blood platelets thus help dengue patients to reach normal levels of platelet count.
Spinach is a rich source of iron and omega-3 acids rich food which improves the immune system to a great extent. It is an effective way to increase the platelet count.
Kiwi Fruits contain good amounts of vitamin A, vitamin E, along with potassium to balance the body’s electrolytes and limiting hypertension and high blood pressure. The copper in kiwifruit is especially for the formation of healthy red blood cells and building immunity against disease.
FOODS TO INCLUDE |
FOODS TO EXCLUDE |
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Oily fried foods Carbonated drinks Coffee Spicy food Red meat Junk foods Papad Achar Ready to eat instant foods which have excess preservatives Cold beverages |
Note: It’s advisable to go easy on non-vegetarian food as it overwhelms the body system and increases load on the liver. Also, if possible, do avoid eating out. Barley, pomegranate, and soups should be made a part of the diet as they help detoxify the liver.
Last but not the least, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” so one must keep their surroundings clean and prevent collection of water in buckets or corners of their surroundings because accumulated water is home for all kinds of mosquitoes that’s why cleanliness should be maintained to ensure that all kinds of mosquitos stay away. Thus, in the end, a proper rest is also necessary to recover from the viral disease dengue. One must avoid over-exertion and always stay hydrated for a speedy recovery.