Dengue or Break Bone Fever
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1994 Sep / Oct Vol III No 5.
Kasivishwanathan T K.
Therapeutics.
` Eup-per / Bapt / Bry / Rhus-t / Gels / Calc-f.
The other day there was a front page article in the Times of India titled - "Experts warn of Dengue fever." A top scientist of the Indian Journal of Medical Research warned that Dengue haemorrhagic fever might break out in urban areas in November and suggested preventive measures.
Dengue is a Spanish word meaning prudery and this is so named probably because of the stiffness of the patients neck and shoulders typical of a person with ego and a stickler for manners. It is a tropical disease and is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquito especially Ades Aegroti. The disease is characterized by fever, severe pain in the bones and muscles. There is a feeling as if the bones are broken and hence the name. The symptoms of the disease resemble those of influenza as regards the fever, headache, muscle and bone pains, articular rheumatism etc. making diagnosis difficult. But Dengue has a rubeolar eruption which is absent in influenza and also Dengue has very little coryza which is common in influenza. The onset is sudden with headache, bone breaking pains all over the body. After an interval of a day or two, a slight or severe relapse occurs with pain as above, fever and a secondary roseolar rash. Fever may be very high rising to a maximum of 106 degree F. After the fever has subsided the residual complaints may continue for months.
Therapeutics:
Remedies which are useful in treating influenza and arthritis are of service in the treatment of this disease.
- Eupatorium-perfoliatum:
When there is a great soreness, bone pains and aching all over the body with headache. The chill is nearly always in the morning and pains in the bones (as if broken) all over, before the commencement of the chill. Headache, backache and thirst during chill. Fever in the morning accompanied with painfulness, trembling, weakness and soreness. Fever goes off by perspiration and sleep.
- Baptisia:
Dr. Bhanja recommends the use of this remedy as soon as the patient feels bodily discomfort etc. to abort the disease or control the virulence of the attack. General muscular soreness, too lifeless to move, great languor, desire to lie down. Breath, sweat, stool and urine are all offensive. These are the symptoms which lead to the selection of the remedy.
- Bryonia:
When rheumatic pains are prominent with joints red, swollen and hot; pain worse on least motion; bones stiff and painful; better by pressure etc.
- Rhus-tox:
Whole body painful. Soreness and bruised feeling. Puffiness of the affected joints. Motion relieves the pain.
- Gelsemium:
Feels sore and bruised all over. Giddy and confused; muscles refuse to obey the will. Fever without thirst and chilliness.
- Other remedies like -
Colchicum, Aconite, Belladonna, China may be indicated as per the symptoms. Calcarea-fluor may be of service in case of swelling of knees and difficulty in flexing them.
Dengue fever by itself is not fatal, but in the haemorrhagic variety the mortality rate is high, around 25 to 30 percent. Homoeopathy has a good armoury of medicines to deal with haemorrhage if it is an accompaniment following high fever.
Compiled by:
T. K. KASIVISHWANATHAN
Wadala,
Bombay - 31.
