To The Star Newspaper,
Malaysia
4 October, 2014
Dear Editor,
RE: ‘PAPAYA LEAF JUICE CAN HELP IN RECOVERY FROM DENGUE FEVER’ (THE STAR 5.7.14)
I refer to an article published by your newspaper titled as above.
While it is fascinating that there seems to be a very simple and effect way of increasing platelet count for dengue victims, this short article leaves a lot to be desired.
The article seems to suggests that the age old remedy of boiling papaya leaves for dengue fever is vindicated. This could lead to a dangerous suggestion for ordinary people to promote it rather than to seek immediate medical help in suspected dengue cases.
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham explains, “The most important management in serious dengue [cases] is careful and meticulous fluid management. Too little water intake can lead to loss of blood volume but too much can also cause water to leak into the lungs. Careful assessment of fluid levels by an experienced doctor based on clinical examination and monitoring important parameters esp haematocrit measurement is the key to a successful outcome in serious dengue [cases]. In addition, many people get very bad vomiting and stomach ache in dengue and taking a diet advocated in the newspaper article can make matters worse.
“Dengue is a very complicated disease which is beyond just dropping [blood] platelets. Besides reducing platelets, it can affect important organs like the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. In addition, one of the most dangerous complication is capillary leaks. This results in fluid leaking into important organs like the lungs resulting in impairment of oxygenation of the blood and breathlessness. This also causes the blood volume to drop and the resultant drop in blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to important organs.”
A responsible newspaper would have included other facts about dengue fever and urge the public to seek medical help once symptoms of dengue appear. The article should have also warned against self-medication.
Dengue is a life threatening disease which Malaysians are exposed to every year especially during the rainy seasons (“Dengue fever battle far from over” The Star, 14.8.14). It is important that the public are not given the impression that there is a home cure that is supported by medical research.
On behalf of the APOSL science club,
Pepper Lim
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
Dr Kok Sen Wai, Psychiatric MO.
No comments:
Post a Comment