The on-and-off spikes in the chart of dengue fever across the nation may make you wonder how to recover fast from this mosquito-borne disease. We believe more than the treatment, the food a dengue patient eats plays an important role in a fast recovery. A dengue patient must be fully aware of the proper dengue diet chart.
It is important to consume nutrient-rich food for dengue along with the right medication to heal faster. The right dengue diet plan can help a person heal faster emotionally, and physically too.
Through this post, we aim to help dengue patients recover fast by eating the right food. So, read on to have a look at the diet plan for dengue patients.
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Table of Contents
What is Dengue?
Dengue is a mosquito borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus. It is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti. The infection can lead to flu-like symptoms like high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash and mild bleeding etc. Severe dengue cases can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life threatening. There is no specific treatment for dengue but early detection and supportive care can easily lower the risk of complications.
How Dengue Fever Spread?
Dengue fever spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti species. When these mosquitoes bite a person already infected with the dengue virus, they become carriers. After an incubation period of 8-12 days, the virus spreads within the mosquito. When the mosquito bites another person, the virus is transmitted into the person's bloodstream, causing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash and bleeding. Controlling the mosquito population and avoiding bites are essential to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
Top 6 Facts about Dengue
Before we start our elaborate discussion on diet charts in dengue, let us acquaint you with some fast facts about dengue fever:
1. Dengue Mosquito: Female Aedes Mosquito
2. Dengue Cause: Bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito
3. Dengue Symptoms: High fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, and skin rashes
4. Dengue Treatment: A Combination of the right medicine like paracetamol, and the right diet including a lot of fluid and nutritious food
5. Dengue Medicine: Over-the-counter medicine Acetaminophen
6. Dengue Recovery Time: Approximately 5-7 days
Also Read: What are the Benefits of Using the Best Mosquito Repellent?
Role of Food in Dengue Fever
Dengue is a mosquito-borne fever caused by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. One who gets this bite tends to become weak and suffer from high fever. Therefore, food plays a crucial role in dealing with dengue fever.
A dengue fever patient must consult a dietician or physician for proper knowledge on what to eat and how much to eat to recover fast from dengue. Every emphasis should be made to include foods that give the patient energy and strength to rebuild the immune system.
Diet Plan for Dengue Fever Patients
Maintaining a healthy diet is important for managing dengue. Here is a diet plan for dengue patients to help them recover quickly and reduce symptoms.
- Dengue patients should focus on eating foods that are easy to digest and rich in nutrients.
- Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into the diet for their immune boosting vitamins and minerals.
- Protein rich foods like lean meats, fish and legumes can assist in repairing damaged tissues.
- Processed and fried foods should be avoided as they can exacerbate symptoms.
- Staying hydrated is important, so drink plenty of fluids such as water, coconut water and herbal tea.
- Eating iron rich foods like leafy greens, lean meats and fortified cereals can assist the body in producing red blood cells.
- Eating foods that contain antioxidants such as berries, nuts and seeds can aid in decreasing inflammation within the body.
- Yogurt and kefir are examples of probiotic-rich foods that can promote digestive health and support the gut microbiome.
- Consult with a healthcare professional to obtain personalized dietary recommendations that are appropriate for the patient's specific needs and condition.
Diet Chart for Dengue Patients
Are you confused for what to eat in dengue? For this, we are now sharing with you the diet chart for dengue patient:
| Time | Dengue Treatment Food Items |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Porridge/Poha/Milk with Cornflakes/Eggs with Toast/Dal Stew with Roti/Low-Fat Yogurt with Fruits/Moong Dal Chilla |
| Lunch | Dal and 2 Chapatis/Fish Curry and 2 Chapatis/Vegetable Stew and 2 Chapatis/Chicken Curry and Rice/Dal, Rice, and Curd/Green Vegetables, Rice, and Roasted Gravy Chicken/A Protein-Rich Dish with Salad |
| Evening Snacks | Fresh Fruit Juice/Vegetable Soup/Chicken Soup/Mushroom Soup/Green Tea/Herbal Tea/Coconut Water |
| Dinner | Dal with Chapati/Seasoned Roasted Fish with Rice or Chapati/Vegetable Stew with Rice/Boiled Chicken Stew with Rice/Mashed Potatoes with Rice/Rice or Chapati in Warm Milk with Honey or Jaggery |
Do's and Dont's While Following Diet Plan for Dengue
Do's
· Eat easily digestible foods that are rich in nutrients to support your body's recovery. paraphrase it
· Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet for their immune-boosting vitamins and minerals.
· Consume protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish and legumes to aid in tissue repair.
· Include probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir to promote digestive health and support the gut microbiome.
· Consult with a healthcare professional to receive personalized dietary recommendations that are appropriate for your specific needs and condition.
Dont's
· Avoid processed and fried foods as they can exacerbate symptoms and delay recovery.
· Stay away from caffeine and alcohol as they can cause dehydration and worsen symptoms.
· Don't consume raw or undercooked foods as they may be contaminated and increase the risk of infection.
· Don't overeat as it can put unnecessary strain on the digestive system and delay recovery.
· Don't take dietary supplements or herbal remedies without consulting with a healthcare professional, as they may interfere with medications and exacerbate symptoms.
Best Foods to Eat in Dengue Fever
Here is a list of some of the best foods to eat during dengue fever:
· Fluids: Water, coconut water, fresh fruit juice, herbal tea and electrolyte solutions
· Protein rich foods: Lentils, beans, eggs, chicken, fish and tofu
· Fruits: Papaya, kiwi, guava, citrus fruits and berries
· Vegetables: Spinach, kale, broccoli and bell peppers
· Garlic: Can be added to meals or taken as a supplement
· Ginger: Can be consumed in the form of ginger tea, ginger ale or added to meals
· Turmeric: Can be consumed in the form of turmeric milk, added to soups or added to curries
· Healthy fats: Nuts, seeds, avocado and olive oil.
Foods to Avoid for Dengue Patients
You just read about the diet plan for dengue fever. It is now time, you also check out what not to eat for dengue fever. So, have a look at the foods that are strictly a no-no in dengue fever:
1. Spicy Food: Foods like chilly and hot spices might irritate the stomach walls of the patient
2. Fried Food: Any fried food will be too heavy for the stomach to digest in dengue fever
3. Fatty Food: Do not trouble your stomach to digest heavy fatty food in dengue
4. Junk Food: Avoid eating pizzas, burgers, and French fries during dengue, as they are not healthy
5. Processed Food: Avoid eating processed food if you want to recover fast from dengue
6. Sugary Beverages: Sugar-rich foods will be difficult to digest for your intestine, so avoid them in dengue fever
7. Caffeine: Caffeine in tea and coffee will act as a diuretic and will dehydrate your body further in dengue, so avoid them
8. Raw Vegetables: Eating raw vegetables is good, but not in dengue, due to poor digestion
9. Stale and Unhygienic Food: Ensure eating fresh home-cooked food and say no to stale and unhygienic outside food
10. Dark-colored Food: Dark colored foods might mislead you to consider a vomit as blood, so it is better to avoid dark-colored red or brown foods in dengue
7 Best Diet Tips to Recover from Dengue Fever
Besides having an understanding of what to eat and what not to eat in dengue fever, we feel there are another couple of things a person should keep in mind for a faster recovery. Here is a list of such tips to help a dengue patient recover post-dengue:
1. Drink lots of water and beverages rich in electrolytes like fresh juices, coconut water, and ORS or Oral Rehydration Solution
2. Foods that are rich in quality to raise your blood platelet count, such as papaya, beetroot, spinach, pomegranate, cod liver oil, green leafy vegetables, and green tea
3. Foods rich in Vitamin-C to recover fast, such as orange, Indian gooseberry, papaya, and grapefruit
4. Consume a lot of probiotics like fresh dahi to get a good dose of good bacteria in your body
5. Do not self-medicate in dengue
6. Avoid exertion by doing hard-core exercises or workouts in a gym
7. Take plenty of rest to heal your body from within
Top 10 Treatment of Dengue
Here are ten key treatments and management strategies for dengue fever:
· Hydration: Keeping hydrated is crucial. Drink plenty of fluids like water, oral rehydration solutions and clear soups to prevent dehydration.
· Rest: Adequate rest helps the body recover more efficiently. Avoid strenuous activities and get plenty of sleep.
· Pain and Fever Management: Use acetaminophen (paracetamol) to manage pain and fever. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin as they can increase bleeding risk.
· Monitoring Symptoms: Regularly monitor vital signs and symptoms. If you notice signs of worsening, such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding or rapid breathing, seek medical help immediately.
· Medical Supervision: For severe cases, hospitalization may be required to monitor and manage complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
· Blood Tests: Regular blood tests can help monitor platelet counts and other markers to detect complications early.
· Avoiding Mosquito Bites: Prevent further mosquito bites by using insect repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants and staying in well-screened or air-conditioned areas.
· Balanced Diet: Maintain a nutritious diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins to support immune function and recovery.
· Avoiding Certain Medications: As mentioned, avoid NSAIDs and aspirin. Consult with a healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter medications.
· Traditional Remedies: While not a replacement for medical treatment, some traditional remedies such as papaya leaf juice are believed to help increase platelet counts, but consult your doctor before using them.
Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment options tailored to the specific case.
Takeaway
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FAQs
1. What food should be avoided during dengue treatment?
It is important to avoid foods during dengue treatment that can further reduce platelet count and cause dehydration during dengue. Some of the foods that should be avoided include spicy, oily and fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods and foods with high sugar content. It is also recommended to avoid non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen as they can increase the risk of bleeding.
2. What food is good for dengue patients?
It is important to consume foods that can help boost immunity and increase platelet count during dengue. Some of the recommended foods include papaya leaf juice, coconut water, vegetable soups, boiled vegetables, protein rich foods like eggs, chicken and fish and foods high in vitamin C like oranges, lemons and kiwis. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water, coconut water and herbal teas.
3. What is the diet plan after dengue fever?
After recovering from dengue fever it is important to continue consuming a nutritious diet to help the body recover and regain strength. The diet should include foods that are easy to digest and rich in nutrients such as lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. It is also important to avoid processed and junk foods and to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
4. Which fruits fight dengue?
Some fruits are known to help fight dengue by boosting immunity and increasing platelet count. These include papaya, kiwi, guava, pomegranate and oranges. Papaya in particular is known for its ability to increase platelet count and its leaves are often consumed in the form of juice or tea to help fight dengue.
5. How can we increase platelets in dengue?
To increase platelet count during dengue it is important to consume foods that are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, iron and folate. Some foods that can help increase platelets include papaya leaf juice, coconut water, kiwi, pumpkin, spinach and beetroot. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water, coconut water and herbal teas. However it is important to note that medical treatment may be necessary in severe cases of dengue fever.