The first thing you must know about dengue is that it is a mosquito-borne tropical disease, the root cause of which is the dengue virus. This virus is usually transmitted to a person when an infected Aedes mosquito bites them. There are as many as four serotypes of the dengue virus; they are DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.

It must be noted that all four of them can potentially cause dengue fever. The term "dengue fever" is frequently used to distinguish clinically milder dengue virus infections. In more severe cases, however, the term "dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)" is used.

One of the common complications of dengue fever is a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, which is called thrombocytopenia. The decrease in platelet count in dengue fever is believed to be due to the destruction of platelets by the dengue virus. The virus infects and damages the bone marrow, where platelets are produced, leading to a decrease in their production. Sometimes the immune system may also produce antibodies that attack and destroy platelets.

Who Can Get Affected By Dengue and How Badly?
Dengue is a disease that can indiscriminately affect people belonging to all genders as well as age groups. The disease is also referred to as "break-bone fever," mainly because of the excruciating pain it may cause. It is prevalent all over the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with about 50 to 100 million cases of dengue fever in more than 100 countries.

Among the common symptoms of dengue are fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes and joints, muscle and bone pain, rash, and fatigue. It usually gets better on its own, but occasionally can be fatal.

It is a viral disease transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes and is a major public health problem in many tropical and subtropical countries, with India, Brazil, and the Philippines being the top three countries.

Anyone who lives in or travels to the areas where dengue is present is at risk of being infected. However, certain groups of people may be more vulnerable to severe illness, including:

Children
Older adults
People with weakened immune systems
People with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease
Dengue, in most cases, does not cause complications and has a self-limiting course with full recovery in two to seven days. However, it can also lead to the patient's demise in some cases.

What Does Dengue Fever Actually Do to Your Platelets?
As we already know, it is a mosquito-borne disease that may cause blood clots and impair blood coagulation. These blood clots can usually form in the patient's capillaries. However, at times, they can also form outside the blood vessels and block blood circulation to different parts of the body. These blood clots can cause the patient to feel faint and develop different grave complications.

This serious medical condition is caused by a virus that invades and damages the body's platelets, which are cell fragments that help blood clot. Dengue, or break-bone fever, causes the platelet count to decrease because the virus that causes platelet damage mainly affects the blood cells of the sufferer.

The platelet count in dengue fever is also one of the useful diagnostic tools and is usually carried out in cases in which the patient exhibits bleeding tendencies or has had recent trauma.

You should also note that the virus responsible for dengue fever is also responsible for another viral disease called yellow fever. All people affected by the dengue virus have similar symptoms and causes, but different amounts of blood damage. Blood damage is one of the causes of death in dengue fever.

A sudden dip in the platelet count is one of the primary reasons for blood loss in dengue; hence it has been given the name hemorrhagic fever. Moreover, platelets are a type of cell that allows the blood to clot when wounded and also helps in reducing bleeding.

When we get infected with a virus, the body goes into self-defense mode and starts to attack the virus. It is when the body releases white blood cells to look for the virus and destroy it. The platelets are responsible for clotting the blood, and when the platelet count decreases, then you have problems with the clotting of blood.

This is usually the reason that people get seriously injured and enfeebled by dengue fever. A severe infection can lead to bleeding from the mouth and nose, as well as internal hemorrhage.

What Else Should You Keep In Mind?
During a season of dengue fever, people usually try to increase their platelet counts so that they have a better chance of fighting the infection. To do this, it is important to increase your consumption of foods rich in omega-3, vitamins, iron, and other minerals. These foods can help fight antibodies and also increase platelet counts in dengue.

You can also add kale and other leafy greens such as mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, and spinach to your meals. The thing about these leafy greens is that they are low in calories and high in vitamins A, C, and K, which are essential to combating the dengue virus. Also, the pigments present in these leafy greens are known to have great anti-inflammatory effects.

Conclusion
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus. This virus is most commonly spread by mosquitoes. If you have dengue fever, you will probably develop symptoms seven to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. If you have dengue hemorrhagic fever, you will probably develop symptoms three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

A person with dengue can have any combination of the following symptoms: mild fever, headache, joint or muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, rash, and mild bleeding. Symptoms can last for a few days to a few weeks.

Most people recover completely. But in some cases, the disease becomes life-threatening. For example, dengue hemorrhagic fever can be life-threatening. Furthermore, we hope you find this article informative and helpful. Please don't hesitate to share your views with us!

Why Platelet Count Decreases in Dengue Fever?

Typhoid is an infectious bacterial fever with an eruption of red spots on the chest and abdomen and severe intestinal irritation, brought about by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be brought about by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that generally causes a less extreme sickness. The bacteria are stored in water or in the food by a human carrier and are then spread to other individuals around them.

Multiple Ways to Prevent Typhoid Fever

Vaccination: Take one dose of the vaccine one week before travelling. The other is given orally in four cases, with one container to be taken every alternate day. Neither one of the vaccines is 100% effective. Both require repetitive immunisation since the effect of vaccines diminishes over time.
Washing your hands: Frequently washing your hands in hot, soapy water is the most ideal approach to control contamination. Wash before eating or cooking food and after using the toilet. Use a hand sanitiser in cases where water isn't accessible.
Drinking clean water: There are a few ways in which you can avoid getting typhoid fever spread by contaminated water.
Abstain from drinking untreated water.
Contaminated drinking water is a specific issue in areas where typhoid fever is endemic. Thus, drink only boiled or filtered water, or canned or packaged carbonated drinks.
Carbonated filtered water is more secure than non-carbonated filtered water.
Request drinks without ice.
Use filtered water to brush your teeth and try not to swallow water in the shower.
Clean water can get contaminated again in case it is not put away securely.
Store the clean drinking water in a container with a little opening and use it within four hours.
Staying away from raw fruits and vegetables: Maintain a strategic distance from crude foods grown in the ground. Since crude produce may have been washed away in water, maintain distance from products of the soil that you cannot peel, particularly lettuce. To be totally protected, you might need to stay away from street food completely.
Cooking: Pick hot foods. Keep away from food that is put away or served at room temperature. Steaming hot nourishments are ideal. Also, in spite of all precautions, there is no assurance that the food served at the finest restaurants is safe for your health. It is best to stay away from foods served by street side vendors. Completely cook all meats, fish and vegetables. Eat them while they are still hot.
Washing: Wash your dishes and utensils with proper dish washing soap and water. Wash your cutting board particularly well with a cleanser and water.
Peeling: Peeling fruits and vegetables protects you from typhoid. Eat natural products that have been freshly washed and peeled, for example, oranges and bananas.

Typhoid Fever - Follow These Steps and Prevent It!

The kidneys are the main excretory organs and remove all toxins and wastes from the body in a liquid medium, the urine. The urine is normally straw coloured as there are filters which do not allow blood to enter the kidneys. However, due to various reasons, when there is a disease in the urinary tract, red blood cells can escape into the urine. The urine then assumes a pinkish tinge; the exact colour would depend on the amount of blood leaked. While the thought of pinkish urine is scary, it becomes a bigger concern when seen in children. Read on to know a little more about the types, causes, and ways to manage this condition. 

Types: 

Microscopic: When there is blood visible only through a microscope. This is quite common in children, and unless there is no accompanying kidney disease, it does not pose a problem when found occasionally. 
Gross: It is when the color of the urine changes to a pinkish tinge. This is of concern and requires immediate attention. 
Causes: 

There are various reasons and some of them are listed below 

Inherited causes: Conditions like sickle cell disease, polycystic kidney disease, Kidney stones and inherited nephritis. 
Structural causes: Cysts in the kidneys can cause hematuria 
Trauma: An injury (to the abdominal area) during sports should be ruled out, which could have damaged the problem 
Infections: Infections along the entire urinary tract right from glomerulonephritis to kidneys to bladder can cause blood in the urine 5.   Imbalances in minerals: High levels of serum calcium, which puts them at a higher risk of developing kidney stones later. Dietary calcium should be reduced. These children also could have a history of stones in the family. 
Idiopathic: When the cause of the hematuria is not known, it is termed idiopathic. 
Associated issues/Diagnosis: 

Hematuria is an indication or a symptom of an underlying medical condition (be it infection or trauma) and the underlying cause always needs complete evaluation. Accompanying symptoms can help narrow down the diagnosis. If any inherited cause is suspected, presence of hematuria should always be assessed in parents and grandparents. 

Check for history of trauma 
Known prior kidney disease 
Symptoms of infection 

Family medical history 
Urine tests to analyse its composition 
Urine culture, MRI, CT scanning, or biopsy may be required in more serious cases. 
When to worry? 

Associated proteinuria 
Microscopic hematuria which is persistent 
Kids with high blood pressure 
Kids with other existing kidney diseases 
Management: 

In most cases, no specific treatment for hematuria is required as the condition subsides after the underlying problem is addressed. For instance, once the infection clears, the hematuria also clears. Follow-up urine tests may be required to confirm that it is cleared. Blood in urine must always be evaluated by pediatric nephrologist as its causes range from very mild disease to rapidly evolving kidney failure, which may occur over days to weeks.

Blood In Urine In Kids - Know The Reasons Behind It!

We know this very well how beneficial drinking water just after getting up is and so many of us practice is too. But when we add honey and lemon in warm water and drink it daily, the benefits gets multiplied. Let's see how it is achieved.

1. Helps in losing weight - Drinking warm water mixed in honey and lemon is very good for health. It helps in losing weight and for this simple reason, people who want to lose weight should take it for sure.

2. No Constipation - This combination of warm water, lemon and honey is so good for health that if taken on an empty stomach it is helpful in keeping constipation at bay. It stimulates the digestive system, infuses water in dried stool which removes constipation completely.

3. Cleanse lymphatic system - Lack of water in the already dehydrated lymphatic system leads to problems like fatigue, disturbed sleep and blood pressure level and hinders mental development. But when you take water in lemon and honey, the lymphatic system gets hydrated and your body functions properly.

4. Keep bad breath at bay and improves oral health - Taste of honey and lemon removes any kind of bad breath in your mouth. Also, these keep your mouth bacteria-free and that's how without direct care, mouth gets benefited indirectly.

5. Boost immune system - Vitamin C helps in fighting cold. As it is high in potassium, it controls blood pressure as well as stimulates brain function.

6. Clears skin - Presence of Vitamin C removes blemishes and wrinkles from skin. Also, it gives a brighter and glowing look. As a result of drinking lemon and honey in water, your skin gets cleared giving your face a cleaner and fairer look.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

The Good That LEMON+HONEY Early in Morning Does to Your Body

Varicose veins is a medical condition where the veins become large and swollen and begin to appear so especially on the legs and feet though any vein can become varicose. This happens when the valves do not function properly and allow the blood to flow in the opposite direction or to pool. Due to this, the veins enlarge, and they begin to appear blue or dark purple on the skin. Legs and feet are the most commonly affected areas because standing or walking increases the pressure on the veins in the lower part of the body.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Apart from the twisted and bulging appearance like cords in blue and dark purple, varicose veins may include other painful symptoms as well such as-

Throbbing feeling and aching, heavy feeling in the legs.
Muscle cramping and swelling in the legs.
Severe pain after sitting or standing for a long period of time.
Bleeding varicose pains.
Treatment for Varicose Veins
In severe cases, varicose veins may rupture and form varicose ulcers on the skin. To avoid complications, it is best to get varicose veins treated before it worsens. Varicose veins can be treated in two ways- either by surgeries or by non-surgical methods, that is, by home remedies, medicines or non-invasive methods.

Surgical methods to treat Varicose Veins
Vein Stripping - Under general anesthesia, two cuts are made one below the groin and one behind the knee joint. The affected vein is then tied or clamped off at the top incision using a technique called vein ligation
Phlebotomy is another method where smaller incisions are made along the vein and using surgical instruments, the vein is pulled out.
Though treating varicose veins by surgeries is the most effective method, it involves several risks. Patients take a longer time to recover from surgeries than non-surgical methods. The sedation may cause complications. Chances of nerve injuries cannot be negated which may lead to fatal conditions such as deep vein thrombosis.

Non-surgical methods to treat Varicose Veins

Radiofrequency ablation is a method in which heat generated electromagnetic waves are used to close off the veins.
Endogenous laser ablation- in this case, lasers are used to close off veins.
Sclerotherapy is another method where a liquid or foam is injected into the affected vein to close it off.
Although big veins cannot be treated by these methods or additional treatments may be required, these methods are not only effective but also free from cuts and stitches or anesthesia. Performance of these treatments need not always take place in hospitals, special clinics can cure varicose veins using these methods. It is always advisable to consult doctors for treating varicose veins who can suggest the best treatment needed to cure varicose veins.


Surgical & Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Varicose Veins - Which Is Better?

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system, thus it is basically a neurological disorder. In this the nerve cell activity of the brain is disrupted and causes seizures along with episodes of unusual behavior along with the loss of consciousness. The symptoms of the seizure can vary and some people with epilepsy just stare blankly for few seconds when a seizure takes place, while some twitch their arms and legs repeatedly.

Symptoms of Epilepsy:
As epilepsy is caused by the abnormal activities in the brain cells, seizures affect the processes with which the brain coordinates. Some signs and symptoms are:

Staring blankly
Confusion which is temporary
Uncontrolled jerking movements of the legs and arms
Loss of awareness and consciousness
Psychic symptoms
Mostly the symptoms vary depending on the type of the seizure. The seizures are further classified into focal and generalized depending on which part of the brain shows abnormal activity.
Focal seizures
When seizures are due to the abnormal activity of the cells in just one area then it is known as focal seizures. These seizures are of two types:

Simple partial seizures or the focal seizures without loss of consciousness. These seizures basically alter the emotions and the things like change in smell, look, sound and taste. These also result in the involuntary jerking of the body like the legs and arms, with spontaneous sensory symptoms like the tingling and flashing of the lights.
Complex partial seizures or the focal dyscognitive seizures. These seizures have a loss of awareness and consciousness. One might just stare blankly into space in this seizure and performs repetitive activities like swallowing, chewing, walking in circles and chewing.
Generalized seizures
There are six types of generalized seizures. These are:

Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, are commonly seen in children and are characterized by subtle body movements like lip smacking and eye blinking and staring blankly into space. These also cause loss of consciousness.
Tonic seizures lead to stiffening of the muscles. These affect the muscles of the legs and arms and also cause to fall to the ground.
Atonic seizures are also called as drop seizures. These cause loss of control in the muscles, thereby leading to collapse or fall.
Clonic seizures are the rhythmic and jerking muscle movements. These affect the arms, face and neck.
Myoclonic seizures appear as twitches in the arms and legs.
Tonic-clonic seizures also known as grand mal seizures are very dramatic and lead to body stiffening, abrupt loss of consciousness, shaking and loss of bladder control and tongue biting.

Epilepsy - How Seizures Affect It?

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