Homeopathy approach in Dengue Fever

 Homeopathy approach in Dengue Fever

Dengue fever poses considerable public health challenge with increasing incidence every year. The patients often consult homeopathic practitioners, for treatment and prevention. Frequently, the practitioners face challenge of its diagnosis, management & prevention .

 What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4). Infection with one serotype of DENV provides immunity to that serotype for life, but provides no long-term immunity to other serotypes. Thus, a person can be infected as many as four times, once with each serotype.
Dengue viruses are transmitted from person to person by Aedes mosquitoes (most often Aedes aegypti) in the domestic environment.

 Dengue' also known as “Breakbone” fever is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease.

It usually presents itself in 2 forms;

1. Simple Dengue Fever
2. Dengue hemorrhagic Fever ( DHF)/ Dengue shock syndrome (DSS)

Dengue fever usually affects people living in tropical regions and it manifests with a sudden episode of high fever.

It has no mortality, have a self limiting course and the patient usually recovers within five to seven days.

The symptoms of Classical dengue fever ;

·         Sudden onset with chills and high fever raised from 102 to 105 degree and continued about 3-5 days,

·         Intense headache(retro-orbital),

·         Severe muscle and backbone pain,

·         Vomiting, tastelessness, weakness, dry tongue, constipation,

·         Reddish eye, and oedoma on face.

The fever lasts for 5-7 days after which the recovery is usually complete. The chance of fatality is very low.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever :It is a more serious form of Dengue fever caused by infection of double Dengue virus and affects a small proportion of patients who are affected by dengue fever

 The clinical manifestations are:

·         Fever-acute onset-continues-lasting for 2-7 days;

·         Liver enlargement and tenderness. Pain feels at pressure on liver.

·         Nausea and vomiting, abdomen pain,

·         Severe pain on whole body especially in backbone and joints.

·         Haemorrage- Bleeding under skin.-Bleeding from nose.-Gum bleeding.-Blood in vomiting.-Blood in stool

 

Homeopathic Medicines

There are several references in the literature for treatment of dengue with homeopathic medicines. The aim of treatment is to provide symptomatic improvement, minimize complications and promote early recovery.

For Dengue Fever:

Medicines most frequently indicated in cases of classical dengue fever are Aconitum napellus, Arnica montana, Arsenic album, Belladonna, Bryonia alba, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Ferrum phosphoricum, Gelsemium, Ipecacuanha, Natrum muriaticum, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla and Rhus toxicodendron which are prescribed on the basis of symptom similarity.

For Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever:

Homoeopathic medicines can be given only as an add on supportive therapy. The group of medicines usually indicated includes Carbo vegetabilis, China, Crotalus horridus, Ferrum metallicum, Hamamelis, Ipecac., Lachesis, Millefolium, Phosphorus, Secale cornutum and Sulphuric acidum.

 Preventive for Dengue in Homeopathy

Simple Dengue Fever (DF)

Eupatorium perfoliatum 200 can be taken twice daily for three days and subsequently at least two doses a week at the interval of three - four day till the epidemic persist for the prevention of dengue fever.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF)

Ipecac in 200 potency can be given twice a day for three days and two doses a week in all the patients those who have already suffered with the dengue fever and are prone for dengue haemorrhagic fever.

  Eupatorium perfoliatum

The chief indication is severe pains in the bones as if broken all over. Other prominent indications of the drug are; chill coming between 7 to 9 a.m., vomiting of bile between chill and heat and insatiable thirst before chill. Occipital pain after lying down with a sense of weight. Perspiration relieves all symptoms except headache. Tongue yellow coated with cracks in the corner of mouth. Bryonia is the nearest analogue, having free sweat but pains keep patient quiet; while eupatorium has scanty sweat and pains make patient restless.

Bryonia alba

Gradual onset of symptoms. Fever with chillness predominating, frequently with heat of head, red cheeks and thirst. Very irritable, inclined to be angry. Indicated in complaints with dryness of mucous membranes; sluggish and stitching pains, aggravated by any motion. Dry mouth with tongue coated white in the middle. Great thirst for large quantities of cold water at long intervals. Sweat relieves fever. Pulse full, hard, tense and quick. There is intense headache, dull, stupefying with a sensation as if the head would burst through forehead. Constipation due to dryness of mucous membranes and complete inactivity of the rectum and stool expelled with much straining.

Gelsemium

Fever accompanied with dizziness, drowsiness, dullness and trembling. Patients want to be held because he shakes so much. Chill without thirst. Pulse is slow while quiet, but greatly accelerated on motion. Pain in forehead behind eyes. The patient wants to lie with head raised upon a high pillow, and lie perfectly still, sometimes the headache is relieved by a profuse flow of urine. Desire to be quiet, to be left alone; does not wish to speak or have any one near her, even if the person be silent.

Rhus toxicodendron

Indicated in slow fevers when sensorium becomes cloudy or stupefaction sets in, with low grade of muttering delirium. Fever with weakness of the whole body with desire to stretch the limbs. Great restlessness, cannot remain in bed, cannot stay long in one position. Dry and brown tongue or red. Triangular red tip of tongue. Sickness at the stomach, loss of appetite, aversion for food, great thirst. Cough during chill, dry teasing fatiguing. Urticaria during heat.

Aconitum napellus

Indicated in the beginning of the disease when complaints are sudden, violent, with anguish and restlessness. Heat with burning thirst for large quantities of cold water, hard, full and frequent pulse, anxious impatience, inappeasable, beside himself, tossing about with agony, becomes intolerable towards evening and on going to sleep. To be prescribed for fever with skin dry and hot, face red, or pale and red alternately. Cold stage is most marked. Cold sweat and icy coldness of the face. Coldness and heat alternate. Sweat drenching on parts lain on; relieving all symptoms.

Belladonna

Sudden onset of symptoms. Fever accompanied with heat redness throbbing and burning. No thirst with fever. Cool extremities and throbbing headache. Pain in forehead behind eyes. The fever is worse at night. Fever with delirium and throbbing headache, eyes red & glistening, the skin is hot and burning. Pains comes and goes suddenly. Fever may be followed by a profuse sweat which brings no relief.

Arsenicum album

High temperature. Great heat around 3 a.m. Periodicity marked with marked weakness. Cold sweats, marked exhaustion. Delirium; worse after midnight. Great mental restlessness. Disproportionate weakness with rapid sinking of vital forces, fainting. Unquenchable thirst, drinks water little and often.

Ferrum phosphoricum

Remedy for first stage of fever. Sensitive, pale, anemic with easy flushing of face. High fever, skin hot and dry, quick pulse, thirst increased. Chill daily at 1 p.m., chill returning at the same time every day. This remedy stands midway between Aconite & Gelsemium in febrile conditions, may be differentiated by pulse which is full & bounding under Aconite while under Gelsemium, it is soft and flowing. No drowsiness & dullness of Gelsemium, no anxious restlessness of aconite. It can be used frequently in biochemic doses in 3x/6x potencies in all cases for the control and support.

Ipecacuanha

Fever accompanied with gastric disturbances. Persistent nausea in one or all stages. Constant nausea is not relieved even by vomiting. Slightest chill with much heat, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnoea. Indicated when tongue is clean and there is thirstlessness and bright red hemorrhages. Backache with short chill, long fever, heat, usually with thirst, headache, nausea and cough.

Natrum muriaticum

Fever appears with chill between 9 and 11 a.m. Violent thirst which increases with fever. Coldness of body and continuous chilliness very marked, sweats on every exertion. Fever blisters around mouth. Tongue mapped. Deep crack in the middle of lower lip. Fever, headache and all other symptoms are relieved by sweating. Sweats on every exertion. Weakness marked in the morning, in bed.

Nux vomica

Cold stage predominates, paroxysms anticipated in the morning. Chilly on least movement , from being uncovered , must be covered in every stage of fever, chill heat or sweat. Great heat, whole body burning hot, faces red and hot, yet patient cannot move or uncover without being chilly. Perspiration sour, only on one side of the body. Aching in limbs and back, and gastric symptoms. Over sensitiveness to external influences; to odour, noise, light or music. Frequent desire for stool, ineffectual.

Few More Medicine
 These medicines given on symptomatic basis help in reducing the hemorrhagic tendency and can improve platelet counts. These medicines should always be used along with the standard care as detailed.

Crotalus horridus
Haemorrhagic diathesis; Blood flows from venous orifices, gums, nose, skin, nails etc. Blood dark fluid that forms no clots. Cold sweats.

Secale cornutum
It is characterized by slow persistent oozing, dark, thin, dark and offensive bleeding worse from motion.

Carbo vegetabilis
Continous passive haemorrhages ,the skin is cold and bluish, pulse , rapid & weak, patient wants to be fanned, burning pains across sacrum and lower spine, persistent nosebleed with sunken face. Death seems near and its close proximity indicates Carbo veg.

Lachesis
Bleeds easily and profusely. Blood is more fluid, dark and non-coagulable. Blood is like charred straw. Hemorrhagic tendency is marked.

Ipecac-Profuse bright red bleeding from any part and is accompanied by nausea. The surface of body may be cold and covered with cold sweat. Septic hemorrhages.

Hamamelis Passive venous hemorrhages , when the parts feel sore and bruised and the patient is greatly exhausted by the flow. The blood is usually dark.

Ferrum metallicum-The Haemorrhages is bright red mixed with clots, and gushing. It thus stands between Cinchona and Ipecac. With Ferrum there is much flushing of the face.

Cinchona officinalis Debility from exhausting discharges, from loss of vital fluids, Periodicity is most marked. All fever stages are well marked. Chill generally in forenoon, commencing in breast; thirst before chill, and little and often. Debilitating night-sweats. Free perspiration caused by every little exertion, especially on single parts.

MillefoliumAn invaluable remedy for various types of hæmorrhages; blood bright red. Hæmorrhage from bowels , lungs & uterus. Bleeding from exertion.

PhosphorusDisorganizes the blood, causing fatty degeneration of blood vessels and every tissue and organ of the body and thus gives rise to hæmorrhages. Chilly every evening. Cold knees at night. Adynamic with lack of thirst, but unnatural hunger. Hectic fever, with small, quick pulse; viscid night-sweats. Stupid delirium. Profuse perspiration.

Sulphuric acidum Haemorrhages from every outlet of the body, with ecchymosed spots under the skin. Extreme weakness, with sense of internal trembling, which is not observable to others.

article for awareness and for homeopathy doctors , and students , please avoid self medication  


thanks so much for any help please write me on drajay@yahoo.co.in