An Overview on Dengue: Definition, Symptoms & Dietary Considerations
Hey people! Did you know, severe dengue fever can cause internal bleeding and organ damage? Not just that, but it can also lead to drastic drop in blood pressure to dangerous levels, causing shock. Additionally, In some cases, severe dengue fever can even lead to death. Let’s discuss about dengue and it’s dietary considerations.
Dengue fever is a virus caused disease that is spread by mosquitoes. In its mild form it causes fever and a rash and lasts about a week. Furthermore, severe dengue can cause shock, internal bleeding, and death.
Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person. When a mosquito infected with the dengue virus bites you, the virus can enter your blood and make copies of itself. Once the virus enters your immune system it’s response can make you feel sick.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
- Sudden, high fever
- Severe headaches
- Pain behind the eyes
- Severe joint and muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
- Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums or easy bruising)
The Symptoms of dengue fever usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days
Dietary Considerations in Dengue
- Consume a well-balanced diet during dengue fever, rich in nutrients to support the immune system. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your meals.
- Include lean protein sources such as poultry, fish, tofu and eggs to aid in tissue repair.
- Dengue can reduce appetite consuming small, frequent meals can help maintain energy levels and provide essential nutrients.
- Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, oral rehydration solutions (ORS), clear soups, and coconut water as maintaining proper hydration is essential to combat the dehydration caused by high fever and sweating.
- Avoid Salty and spicy foods as it can exacerbate dehydration and digestive discomfort. Instead, Opt for a bland, easy to digest diet.
- Include foods rich in vitamins and minerals such as foods high in vitamin C (e.g., citrus fruits), vitamin A (e.g., carrots, sweet potatoes), and zinc (e.g., lean meats, legumes) can support the immune system.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as it leads to dehydration.
- Include soft, easily digestible foods such as rice, porridge, yoghurt, and boiled or steamed vegetables.
- Avoid spicy, salty foods, alcohol, caffeine, fried and fatty foods.
- Take adequate rest, as it is crucial for recovery. Additionally, it is important to ensure getting adequate sleep and avoiding strenuous activities.
In conclusion don’t give mosquitoes places to breed as they lay their eggs in water, so it’s crucial to get rid of standing water in things like containers and discarded tires, flower vases , Limit the amount of time spent outside during the day, especially in the hours around dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. If someone in your home gets dengue fever, be especially vigilant about efforts to protect yourself and other family members from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that bite the infected family member could spread the infection to others in your home. Furthermore, your body becomes weak when infected by the dengue virus, adding foods like milk, rice, potato which are rich in energy is beneficial as they provide a lot of calories and energy to the body. These foods will help you regain your lost strength. Therefore, A well-balanced diet supports the immune system, helps maintain strength, and prevents malnutrition, which are crucial factors in the early recovery of dengue patients.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20353078
https://www.healthline.com/health/dengue-fever
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/dengue.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever
