Dengue fever is a type of fever which is caused by transmission of the dengue virus through mosquito bite. This fever is characterized by high temperature, severe body pain, vomiting, and skin rash. This fever usually subsides after standard treatment with painkillers and symptomatic medication for fever. More severe manifestations of the fever require administration of intravenous fluids, after which the fever subsides rapidly. A severe manifestation of dengue fever is known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, in which disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs. This results in generalized bleeding in the body and can prove to be serious or even fatal.
The Ayurvedic management of dengue fever consists of giving symptomatic treatment for all the symptoms. The Ayurvedic medicines given for fever usually also reduce skin rash and burning sensation in the body. Additional treatment needs to be given to treat the severe body pain, which is usually characteristic of this fever. Other symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea have to be treated separately. Treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation has to be done aggressively in order to prevent morbidity and mortality from this condition. Usually, the bleeding results from gross inflammation of the blood vessels and small capillaries all over the body. This inflammation can be controlled by using Ayurvedic herbal medicines in high doses, which act swiftly and thereby prevent or reduce hemorrhage within the body. Treating the blood also reduces toxins present within the blood and thereby prevents any further complications.
As mentioned previously, most individuals suffering from dengue fever respond rapidly; however, this condition is not to be taken lightly and treatment has to be instituted as early as possible, and affected individuals need to be under close supervision. Timely treatment and medication has been known to prevent serious complications.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at www.ayurvedaphysician.com
