Papaya juice doesn’t cure Dengue fever: Busting 5 dengue fever myths

With the rise of Dengue cases in the country, myths related to the disease are also re-surfacing. Dengue is a potentially fatal fever, with a severe version of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever causing internal bleeding which could lead to death.

Many ambiguous misconceptions surround our understanding of Dengue fever. Let’s debunk some of the most common beliefs about this disease:

Myth 1: Low platelets mean you have dengue

A low platelet count can be an indication of dengue, however, that is not always the case. Not every dengue patient has a drop in platelets, and not every patient with a low platelet count has dengue.
Other factors can cause a decrease in platelet count. Platelet counts can drop as a result of other viral infections as part of the body’s immunological response.

Myth 2: Any mosquito can cause dengue

Not every mosquito can cause dengue. Dengue is transmitted exclusively by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which thrives in densely-populated tropical climates and breeds in stagnant pools of water. The mosquitoes pick up the virus from infected humans and pass it along through bites.

Myth 3: You can get infected only once in a lifetime

Many individuals assume that once infected with the dengue virus, they cannot be infected again. This is possibly the most damaging fallacy about dengue, as it raises the likelihood of more people falling victim to the disease. While our immune system is capable of combating dengue, it does not develop immunity to the virus.

Myth 4: Drinking papaya juice can cure dengue

Dengue fever cannot be cured with papaya leaf extract. According to research, papaya leaf extract may aid in platelet synthesis. However, platelet counts are not the only issue to be concerned about when it comes to dengue, and not every patient will have low platelet counts.

Myth 5: Dengue is contagious

No, dengue is not contagious. It does not transmit from person to person. It is only transmitted when an infected Aedes mosquito bites a person, who then develops dengue and symptoms appear 4 to 5 days after being bitten. Infected patients are usually kept in mosquito nets so that they are not bit by more mosquitoes which can then carry the virus and infect others.