18/09/2022
Survival Guide:
(by a doctor who is currently treating countless dengue patients everyday)
1-get a CBC if you have had fever for > 3 days and it's high grade. Maintain adequate hydration (around 3L of water everyday, preferably oral rehydration solution)
2-A slight drop in your platelet count is generally not very worrisome. An increase in your hematocrit, however, is. This means your blood is super thick. I would suggest rush to the ER if your hematocrit is above 44-45 and your fever isn't settling.
3- please please please DO NOT take any antibiotics unless a doctor tells you to.
4- sometimes it also causes acalculous cholecystitis ( inflammed gallbladder without stones) which can cause terrible pain in the center of your tummy. It also causes a super itchy rash on your body. All of this can be managed symptomatically.
5-Papaya leaves cause terrible diarrhea. I m afraid that may give rise to a circulatory shock in patients already going thru a compromising state. Also, we still don’t have any valid studies to support if they
ACTUALLY WORK!
6-Make sure you're taking proper precautions. Mospel lotion, full sleeves. Mosquito nets and rackets. Make sure you and your loved ones have all of these.
7-We have noticed folic acid supplements helping some patients. Betamethasone lotions help with the rash. Abdominal pain settles once your body recovers.
8- Do not believe the “life-long immunity” hoax spread around you. In fact, dengue is worse the second time it happens. 9 -Do not rush for platelet transfusion unless there is active bleeding with rapidly falling platelets. Principle of therapy is proper hydration and fever control. Be prepared for post viral fatigue which may last a week or two.