Dealing With Dengue: How To Nurse Your Loved Ones Back To Health
With dengue doing the rounds, it’s pretty important that you know how to deal with it.
Knowledge is often key to treating this mosquito bite-induced disease. Hospital staff are trained to deal with severe cases, but if you’re helping a loved one recover at home, here’s some key information to help you out.
- Make Sure They Get Enough Rest, And Professional Consultation
The key to recovering from any disease is to give your body the rest it needs, and this goes for dengue recovery as well. Your patient needs plenty of sleep; make sure they get just that.
Medical care by a doctor is crucial, even if you’re helping someone recover from a dengue episode at home. Accompany them on visits to the doctor, and take notes of their medication plan. The physician might need you to monitor the patient’s fever on a regular basis.
- Keep Things Clean And Hygienic
The main concern when you have a dengue patient at home is to make sure that your house is mosquito-free. Why? Because dengue can be spread through mosquito bites, from the patient to someone else in the house.
If there’s a mosquito problem in your area, use mosquito nets, and screens on doors and windows. You can also use mosquito repellent on yourself and others at home.
- Take Care Of The Dengue Diet
What does the dengue diet entail?
First and foremost, hydration: make sure they drink plenty of water, and supplement it with drinks like tender coconut water. Fruit juices and soups are great too. Use papaya leaves in a juice; this helps increase the platelet count, which is the what dengue attacks.
Avoid all manner of spicy or oily food, instead sticking to a diet rich in vitamin C, herbal teas and porridges.
- Learn To Spot An Emergency
Certain signs mean that you’ll need to take the patient straight to the hospital; such situations are best handled by medical professionals. These signs include:
- Red spots or patches appearing on skin
- Continuous vomiting, or heavy stomach pain
- Nosebleeds, or bleeding gums
- Blood in vomit/stools
- Breathing difficulties
If you see any of these symptoms, rush them straight to the doctor.
References:
https://www.mrright.in/ideas/home-and-garden/health/take-care-dengue-patient-advised-doctors/
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/resources/factsheets/homecareenglish.pdf
