What Kind of Treatment or Natural Remedies Relieve Dengue?
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that affects 400 million a year worldwide.[1] Close to half the world’s population, or about 4 billion people live in dengue-risk areas.[2] Malaysia is a country afflicted with a high number of dengue cases.[2] The state with the highest number of outbreaks is Selangor.[3]
Since dengue is a risk in Malaysia, we will explore treatments for dengue fever and discuss whether natural remedies are effective in managing dengue fever symptoms in the following article.
How Do You Know If You Have Dengue Fever?
Dengue affects people of all ages. While 3 out of 4 dengue cases show no or mild symptoms, severe dengue may present initially as flu symptoms and develop quickly into life-threatening conditions.[2] Common symptoms of dengue include[2]:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Muscle and joint pains
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Rash
Doctors often diagnose dengue based on a patient’s clinical presentation before confirmation with a lab test.[4] If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible so that you can get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
How Do We Treat Dengue Fever?
There is no specific treatment for dengue.[5] Patients are often monitored closely and provided care to address symptoms and alleviate discomfort. This is known as ‘supportive care’.[5] It involves taking measures to relieve the symptoms and supporting the body as it fights the infection. Medical treatment may include pain relievers and fever medications such as paracetamol.[6] Painkillers like Aspirin and NSAIDs should be avoided to prevent the risk of bleeding.[6]
In severe cases of dengue fever, hospitalization may be necessary.[7] Treatment in the hospital may include:
- Receiving fluids through an intravenous (IV) line[8]
- Receiving blood transfusions if necessary[8]
Other ways to manage dengue?
1. Eat Nutritious Food & Drink Plenty of Water
Eating a healthy diet will help to boost your immune system and speed up your recovery. Eating nutritious food and drinking plenty of water is important, especially when you are sick.[8]
Drinking plenty of fluids is also important to prevent dehydration.[8]Fruit juice and electrolyte drinks are good options to replenish your energy and hydrate your body.[8]
2. Get Plenty of Rest
Rest will help your body to recover from the illness more quickly.[8] It is important to avoid strenuous activity and take breaks throughout the day to rest.
If you are tired, sleeping more than usual is okay. Once you start to feel better, you can slowly return to your normal activities.
Are Natural Remedies Effective?
Remedies such as papaya leaf extract or crab soup do not have strong scientific evidence to suggest its effect on dengue.[9],[10],[11]Consult your doctor before adding natural remedies to your recovery regimen.[10]Taking unproven treatments may delay seeking proper medical care and lead to more serious consequences.
To recap, there is no treatment for dengue fever. As such, supportive management is taken by healthcare professionals to manage the symptoms of dengue. For those recovering from dengue, adequate rest, nutrition and hydration may be helpful.
Overall, dengue prevention is better than cure. Read the following articles to learn about ,vector control, and integrated dengue prevention methods or speak to your doctor about the latest dengue prevention methods.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 3). Dengue. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from Dengue | CDC
World Health Organization. Dengue and Severe Dengue. Available at Dengue and severe dengue. Accessed on 24 August, 2022.
IDengue_Versi 3.0. iDengue_Versi 3.0. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2022, from https://idengue.mysa.gov.my/
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Gulf War and Health. Gulf War and Health: Volume 2. Insecticides and Solvents. National Academies Press (US); 2003 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143156/ | Accessed on October 30, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, May 3). Treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/healthcare-providers/treatment.html
MIMS Malaysia. Dengue Treatment. Available at https://specialty.mims.com/dengue/treatment?channel=infectious-diseases. Accessed on 24 August, 2022.
MIMS Malaysia. Dengue Diagnosis. Available at Dengue Diagnosis | MIMS Myanmar. Accessed on 24 August, 2022.
MIMS Malaysia. Supportive Therapy. Available at Supportive Therapy | MIMS Singapore.Accessed on 24 August, 2022.
Soobitha Subenthiran, Tan Chwee Choon, Kee Chee Cheong, Ravindran Thayan, Mok Boon Teck, Prem Kumar Muniandy, Adlin Afzan, Noor Rain Abdullah and Zakiah Ismail. (2013). Carica papaya leaves juice significantly accelerates the rate of increase in platelet count among patients with dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia - Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia. Retrieved September 8, 2022, from https://www.imr.gov.my/en/component/content/article/12-publication/1967-p13-082.html
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Langkah-Langkah Penyediaan Jus Daun Betik. Pusat Penyelidikan Perubatan Herba Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan, 1–2. Available at Langkah-langkah penyediaan jus daun betik.
Ismail, I. S., Hairon, S. M., Yaacob, N. M., Besari, A. M., & Abdullah, S. (2019, May). Usage of traditional and complementary medicine among dengue fever patients in the Northeast region of Peninsular Malaysia. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS. Retrieved September 8, 2022, from Usage of Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Dengue Fever Patients in the Northeast Region of Peninsular Malaysia - PMC.
C-ANPROM/MY/DENV/0384 JAN 2025
This article is brought to you by Takeda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Disclaimer: This information is available to public for information purposes only; it should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not intended to substitute consultation with a healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice
Written By Sofia Farudz, MBBS Bch BAO, National University of Ireland, Galway on
Reviewed By DoctorOnCall Panel Doctor
