Doctors advise dengue patients to drink adequate fluid, take rest

They said taking adequate fluid help keep the body hydrated and maintain blood pressure, while rest helps the body to regain the strength quickly and increase immunity. 

So, they said, dengue patients should drink more water, coconut water, orsaline and fruit juices as it prevents water deficiency and helps in quick recovery.

Dr Md Abdul Quader, an associate professor of the Pediatrics Department at Dhaka Medical College (DMCH), told BSS that it is very important to feed dengue patients nutritious food along with liquid food.
 
At this time, problems like dehydration, weakness, fatigue and a decrease in the amount of platelets in the blood also occur, he said.
 
"If one suffers from dengue fever, he or she should include protein-rich foods in his or her diet. At this time, fish, meat, pulses, eggs, nuts, milk and yogurt should be kept in the food list," Quader said.

He said dengue patients should drink more water, coconut water, orsaline and fruit juice, yogurt or lassi.
 
In addition, the doctor said, chicken soup, nuts and milk shakes, pudding are very beneficial and easily digestible foods. 

Since patients with fever cannot eat heavy food, taking nutritious light food in a short time provides the body with adequate nutrition, he said.

Advising the patients to take complete rest, Quader said they can eat vitamin-C rich foods such as lemon, orange, malta, amalaki, olives, grapefruit, pineapple. "Vitamin-C helps our body absorb iron easily. It also increases immunity."

Regarding the treatment of dengue fever, Dr Hasan Hafizur Rahman, an associate professor of the Department of Medicine at DMCH, said the body temperature can rise to 102 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit in dengue fever. 

At this time, the fever should be reduced by pouring water on the head and wiping the body, he said. 

In addition, he said paracetamol-like medicines should be given in every six to eight hours, depending on the severity of the fever. 

Dr Hafizur said the main treatment for dengue fever is to manage enough water in the body. 

"Along with water, liquid foods such as fruit juice, soup, orsaline and coconut water should be consumed," he said.

He said the main medicine for viral fever is rest because rest will give the human body's immune system the scope to be fully active against the disease.
 
"However, make sure that the rest time is not spent on social media, online games or unnecessary browsing of the net," he said.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), as of August 9 this year, a total of 19,345 people have been admitted to the hospital due to dengue and of them, 61 died. 

Among the deceased, 22 were men and 39 were women. Among the infected ones, 61.5 percent was men and 38.5 percent was women. So far this year, 28 people have died of dengue in Dhaka division alone, reports BSS.