As the summer drags on, the arrival of the rains brings some, much-needed, respite from the heat. However, the rains also bring with them some diseases peculiar to the season.
Amongst these, chikungunya and dengue are two mosquito borne viral infections which have become quite widespread in recent years. In fact, the incidence of dengue has increased thirty times over the last fifty years. Dengue fever is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most critical mosquito-borne viral disease in the world – and the most rapidly spreading – with a 30-fold increase in global incidence over the past 50 years.
Before 1970, only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. More than 40 percent of the world’s population, in more than 100 countries are at risk of dengue infection. Each year, an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur around the world. Of these, 500,000 cases develop into dengue haemorrhagic fever, a more severe form of the disease, which results in up to 25,000 deaths annually worldwide.
In India alone, the spike in cases of dengue was the highest in the last decade, according to the data from National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and National Health Profile 2018. From less than 60,000 cases in 2009, cases increased to 188,401 in 2017— a more than 300 per cent spike.
Chikungunya was first identified in Tanzania in early 1952 and has caused periodic outbreaks in Asia and Africa since the 1960s. In 2005 more than 2,72,000 people were infected during an outbreak of Chikungunya in the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius and 2006 saw a major outbreak in India with more than 15,00,000 cases of chikungunya were reported and till May last year India had already witnessed over 19,113 cases of dengue and chikungunya.
Both these diseases are caused most commonly, by the bite of the infected Aedes mosquito and have almost similar symptoms. They begin to appear three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The patient presents with high fever, with marked joint pains and swelling, headache, nausea and fatigue. New-borns, those above the age of sixty-five and people with other medical conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes may manifest severe symptoms.
It is possible to get chikungunya and dengue at the same time. One infection is supposed to confer lifelong immunity. However, since there are various subtypes of the dengue virus, it is possible to contract the infection more than once.
They are both generally self-limiting, lasting for two to three days. Some of the residual symptoms of body ache, weakness, loss of appetite etc, may linger for a few more days.
Dengue infection can also manifest as severe dengue fever. This was previously known as dengue haemorrhagic fever. This is a serious condition and the patient may need hospitalisation to manage his symptoms like bleeding gums, blood in vomit, rapid breathing, persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain etc.
There are no specific anti-viral medicines for chikungunya or dengue. Treatment using conventional medicine is limited to acetaminophen and paracetamol. In cases of dengue, it is very important to avoid the use of other kinds of conventional medicines. The use of aspirin and ibuprofen can substantially increase the risk of bleeding.
Given the limited number of options for providing any relief in conventional medicine, homeopathy has emerged as an extremely effective mode of treatment for both these infections. Tens of thousands of patients are prescribed homeopathic medicines to help manage their symptoms and keep the course of illness short, every year. Homeopathy provides effective and safe pain relief in these patients while keeping the range of fever low. It is important to remember that in both these conditions, the severity of muscle, joint pains and headache can be severe. Patients often cry out in pain, which has earned dengue the moniker of ‘break bone fever’. Providing safe and effective pain relief without the use of some of the most common analgesics in conventional medicine becomes difficult. This is an important reason why homeopathy has seen such popularity amongst patients. Patients of severe dengue infection also report quick cessation of bleeding and a rapid return of platelet counts to normal readings. Transfusion of blood or platelets is often avoided after commencing homeopathic treatment.
Unfortunately, these infections often appear at a time where other bacterial infections and viral fevers are showing an increase. In areas where dengue is prevalent, it is important that patients ensure that dengue is ruled out before they start a course of antibiotics or pain-relieving medicines. For this reason, too, the use of homeopathic medicines, before a definitive diagnosis comes in, is entirely safe and can avoid the occurrence of serious complications.
Homeopathy or not, some common-sense precautions can significantly lower the chances of contracting these and other mosquito borne illnesses. We are all aware of the need to wear loose fitting clothing that covers our limbs when going out and the need to keep our surroundings free of stagnant water. Keeping the area around our houses and places of work clean and free of garbage is very helpful too.
In urban settings, the use of mosquito nets is usually avoided. This is most likely due to aesthetic reasons. Residents of areas with a high density of mosquitoes will do well to remember that mosquito nets are one of the most effective methods of mosquito protection. This may be a very effective option for patients who are sensitive to chemical odours. They may find inhaling mosquito repellent chemicals all day to be a trigger for other allergic conditions.
One last point needs to be highlighted: should you contract a mosquito borne infection; it is vital that you ensure that you are not bitten by mosquitoes again during your illness. This will reduce the chances of those around you from contracting the same infection.
So, as the monsoons make their way over the rest of the country, enjoy the rains but remember these simple measures to stay healthy and infection free.
Dr. Kushal Banerjee is a second-generation homeopath at the renowned Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic, CR Park and has over a decade of experience in the practice. He is also a member of the British Register of Complementary Medicine, England and has lead-authored research on homeopathy with collaborators from the University of Oxford and Imperial College, London.
