Dengue fever medicine (dbd) that you should know

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a disease caused by mosquito bites aedes aegypti who are infected with the dengue virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) records that there are around 50-100 million cases of DHF every year worldwide. If you have dengue fever (DHF), you must immediately be examined and given medication so that you do not experience complications and pass it on to other people.

Dengue fever medicine (DHF) during hospitalization

Until now, there is no specific and definite effective medicine for treating dengue fever. If you are hospitalized, the doctor will usually give you a variety of more than one type of medication to relieve symptoms while preventing your condition from getting worse.

Generally, the main treatment method of DHF in the hospital is by infusion to normalize blood pressure and flow. The infusion also functions to restore lost body fluids to prevent the risk of dehydration and shock.

The following are other medicines that doctors also commonly give to treat dengue, regardless of whether you are hospitalized or treated at home:

1. Paracetamol

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is commonly used to reduce fever and relieve joint and muscle pain, lethargy, and malaise due to this disease.

However, types of pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, salicylates, and other types of NSAIDs should not be used to treat dengue fever. These medicines can increase the risk of bleeding.

2. Platelet transfusions

Dengue that is allowed to continue can make the blood platelet count lower. So, sometimes platelet transfusions are needed in certain cases.

Platelet transfusions are not drugs, but rather a treatment method to increase the number of platelets during dengue fever.

According to dr. Leonard Nainggolan, SpPD-KPTI who was met by HelloSehat (29/11), not all people with dengue need to receive a transfusion. Platelet transfusions were only performed in patients whose platelet count was far below 100,000 / µl.

In addition, platelet transfusions are only performed on patients who experience symptoms of heavy bleeding, such as nosebleeds that can't stop and bloody bowel movements.

If there is no bleeding, platelet transfusion is not required.

Additional treatment to help dengue fever medicine more effectively

Whether it's hospitalized or treated at home, the doctor will usually advise you on the following four things to make the dengue fever medicine more effective:

1. Consume lots of fluids

Everyone who is sick with dengue needs to get plenty of fluid intake. Not only through infusion, but also by drinking lots of water, eating vegetables and fruits with lots of water (such as watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and oranges), to eating foods that are broth like chicken soup.

For healthy people, the minimum portion of water a day is eight glasses. However, DHF patients of course need more. Especially if you experience bleeding or vomiting. So, make sure the patient gets an adequate intake of white fluids every few minutes. Don't wait to get thirsty.

Dr. dr. Leonard Nainggolan, SpPD-KPTI added, the medicine most needed by DHF patients is actually isotonic liquid because it functions better than plain water. Isotonic fluids containing electrolytes can prevent leakage of blood plasma in DHF patients.

Fluids must be used as dengue fever medicine to reduce fever and prevent the risk of dehydration and shock. In addition, muscle pain and headaches due to dehydration during dengue can also be treated by consuming lots of fluids.

2. Get enough rest

As long as dengue fever medicine is prescribed, people who are sick are obliged to take complete rest, aka bed rest . Rest can help restore body tissue damaged by dengue fever infection.

If hospitalized, the doctor can give DHF patients certain drugs to quickly become drowsy so they can rest completely.

3. Eat platelet-boosting foods

As long as they are still taking medication, people with phlegm fever must prioritize healthy and nutritious eating habits. Especially eating certain foods that can help the body normalize or increase blood platelet levels. Anything?

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B12 helps to keep blood cells healthy and balance platelet levels. So that vitamin B12 deficiency is closely associated with symptoms of anemia.

You can get a good source of vitamin B12 from beef liver and eggs. Avoid cow's milk and processed products such as cheese or butter. Even though it is high in vitamin B12, cow's milk and its processed products can actually interfere with platelet production.

Folic acid

Folic acid helps increase blood cell production when dengue strikes, and can be obtained from:

• Nuts
• Peas
• Red beans
• Orange fruit

Iron

Iron helps your body produce healthy blood cells. You can get high sources of iron from the following healthy foods:

• Seafood like shellfish
• Pumpkins
• Nuts
• Beef

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can increase the platelet count and can help it work optimally when you have dengue fever. Vitamin C can also be said to be a natural cure for dengue fever because it helps you fight infection and absorb iron, which together can help increase the platelet count.

You can get high intake of vitamin C from:

• Mango
• Pineapple
• Broccoli
• Green or red peppers
• Tomato
• Cauliflower

Not only from food. You can also increase your daily vitamin C intake through vitamin supplements. When you have dengue fever, take 500 mg of vitamin C supplements for 6-9 days. Ask your doctor more about the clearer rules of use.

4. Zinc supplements

Zinc is an essential mineral that can help strengthen the immune system and stimulate healthy cell growth.

In addition, zinc also plays an important role in increasing the amount of interferon in white blood cells to fight the virus that causes dengue.

The recommended dose for zinc supplements as an additional medicine when you have dengue fever is 25 mg once a day.

Choice of herbal dengue fever medicine

Apart from the two methods above, it has become commonplace for Indonesians to also try various herbal remedies to treat a disease.

Here are some choices of the most popular herbal medicines in Indonesia to help speed up the healing of DHF:

1. Papaya leaves

According to a collection of studies summarized in the journal BMJ, papaya leaf extract can be a herbal dengue medicine to increase the blood platelet count.

Papaya leaves are believed to help stabilize the walls of red blood cells so they are not easily destroyed when attacked by the dengue virus.

Here's how to mix papaya leaves as a natural dengue fever medicine:

• Wash 50 grams of papaya leaves, dry.
• Coarsely mash papaya leaves, then dissolve it in a glass of boiled water
• Drink papaya leaf water 3 times a day

2. Guava juice

Guava has no doubt about its reputation as a natural dengue fever medicine. The trick is to cut fresh guava fruit and remove the seeds, then blend until smooth.

According to a study in 2016, guava contains thrombinol which can stimulate thrombopoietin in the body. Thrombopoietin is a substance that can trigger the formation of new blood plates, thereby increasing the platelet count.

Guava also contains various types of minerals such as magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and calcium which help increase the number of platelets. Phosphorus also helps repair the tissues around damaged and leaky blood vessels.

In the juiced version, guava will be easier to digest. Its high water content also helps keep you hydrated so you don't get dehydrated. In addition, the quercetin content of guava can help stop the spread of the dengue virus in the body.

3. Raise

Angkak, brown rice from China, can be a natural remedy to relieve symptoms of dengue fever.

Over time, dengue infection can further reduce blood platelet levels so that the body's condition may worsen. Eating Angkak as a natural remedy for dengue fever has the potential to accelerate the healing period of DHF.

Its potential benefits have been proven by a thesis study from IPB in 2012 which reported that Angkak extract supplements increased the platelet count in white rats with thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels in the blood).

4. Echinacea leaves

According to a study published in the Pakistan Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Research, echinacea leaves can help the body produce more special proteins and interferons. Both of these substances have an important role in the immune system to fight against viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

In addition, echinacea is often used as herbal ingredients to treat colds and fever.

5. Patikan Kebo (Weed)

Make sure kebo is a weed which has a Latin name Euphorbia hirta and potential as a cure for dengue fever. Based on research in the Philippines, boiled water for patikan kebo can reduce the formation of stereotypical dengue virus plaques 1 and 2.

6. Sambiloto leaves

Sambiloto is a herbal leaf which, when consumed, tastes bitter, but is often used as a medicine for dengue fever. Plants that have Latin names Andrographis Paniculata it is reported to be able to eradicate the dengue virus, according to a 2016 study.

However, further research is needed to test the effectiveness of sambiloto as a powerful natural dengue fever drug without side effects.

7. Dates

Not many people know that dates can also be used as a natural remedy for treating DHF symptoms. Dates contain natural sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which have been shown to be able to restore your body's energy during a fever.

Not only that. Iron in dates can also increase the number of platelets in the body naturally. The content of amino acids and fiber in dates helps facilitate digestion.

Do not carelessly use herbs as a cure for dengue fever

Before using any herbal remedies to treat dengue fever, you should consult your doctor first.

The use of natural herbal remedies is not a priority and the only treatment that is effective in dealing with dengue fever. Some of the herbs above are mostly only to help healing, not to treat.

Medical examination and doctor's treatment should be considered for precedence. The doctor can provide a treatment plan and appropriate treatment according to the severity of the disease and your current body condition.