Controlling current symptoms, enhancing bodily health, and boosting immunity are steps you can take to combat dengue fever. Alongside medical treatment, specific nutrition for dengue fever patients-knowing what foods to eat and which ones to avoid – can expedite your recovery.
1. Importance of Nutrition for Dengue Patients
Dengue fever, like other viral diseases, weakens the patient’s immune system, leading to a range of typical symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, body aches, and bleeding. Therefore, nutritional supplementation should be emphasized alongside the treatment process to aid in rapid recuperation, enhance immunity, and prevent dangerous complications.
Nutritional principles suggest using a variety of nutritious foods rich in protein and energy. Dengue patients need to increase their protein and energy intake gradually with each meal and consider adding extra snacks daily. Foods should be prepared in a soft, liquid form for easy consumption and digestion, facilitating increased intake.
Nutrition plays an important role in the recovery process of dengue fever patients
2. Dietary Regimen to Aid Dengue Recovery
2.1 Foods Rich in Vitamin C – Essential Nutrition Source for Dengue Patients
Among various vitamins, vitamin C plays a crucial role in the recovery process for dengue patients. Known for its antiviral and antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in nutrient absorption, particularly iron, from the intestine. Therefore, fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, papayas, pineapples, and leafy green vegetables should be included in your daily diet when suffering from dengue fever.
2.2 Iron-Rich Foods
Dengue fever often leads to a decrease in platelet count. While the body requires sufficient iron to maintain hemoglobin levels in the blood and produce platelets—essential for blood clotting and preventing bleeding.
Therefore, consuming iron-rich foods such as beans, liver, red meat, bananas, apples, plums, oranges, pomegranates, spinach, and broccoli can help restore platelet levels and overall health more quickly.
2.3 Vitamin K-Rich Foods
Vitamin K is another important nutrient for dengue patients as it promotes platelet production, improves bleeding conditions, and aids in combating dengue fever. Hence, foods rich in natural vitamin K such as alfalfa sprouts, curly kale, sugar beets, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, celery, and parsley should be included in the list of foods to eat when suffering from dengue fever.
Among these, the following foods contain high levels of vitamin K per 100g: Cooked spinach contains 540.7 micrograms, cooked kale contains 418.5 micrograms, cooked mustard leaves contain 592.7 micrograms, cooked cabbage contains 108.7 micrograms, and dried basil contains 1714.5 micrograms.
Vitamin K-rich foods help people with dengue fever increase platelets and improve bleeding condition
2.4 Caloric-Rich Foods
Your body becomes weakened when infected with the dengue virus, so replenishing energy is essential. Foods such as milk, rice, and potatoes are recommended to regain strength during dengue fever.
2.5 Fluids
Water is crucial for the body, especially for dengue fever patients experiencing dehydration. Ensure you drink plenty of water during treatment and recovery. You can also consume different types of fluids like coconut water and rice water as they contain electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium, aiding in electrolyte balance and maintaining hydration.
3. Foods to Avoid in Dengue Diet
Alongside foods to consume for nutritional enhancement during dengue fever, certain food groups should be avoided:
– Fried, oily foods: High-fat foods may elevate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, slowing down the recovery process by weakening the immune system.
– Spicy foods: The list of foods to avoid when having dengue fever includes spicy foods. Spicy foods can lead to acid buildup in the stomach, causing ulcers, increased risk of digestive bleeding, and hindering the recovery process.
– Caffeine-containing beverages: Dengue fever causes dehydration, so patients need to drink plenty of water. Caffeine-containing beverages can stimulate the digestive tract, causing nausea and diarrhea, increasing stomach acid production, accelerating heart rate, weakening muscles, and leading to dehydration. All these side effects may impede the dengue fever recovery process.
4. Other Considerations in Dengue Patient Care
Dengue fever patients should have a medical examination to receive advice on appropriate nutrition and treatment to help recover quickly.
Besides the nutritional regime for dengue patients, attention should be paid to the following issues:
– Do not self-administer pain relievers or fever reducers without a doctor’s prescription. Misuse of medication may inadvertently worsen bleeding in dengue patients.
– Monitor the patient’s condition closely throughout the dengue fever cycle. When any unusual symptoms arise, promptly inform the doctor for timely and effective treatment to mitigate and resolve the disease.
Here is the information about nutrition for dengue fever patients, hoping it can assist in your recovery process.
