Home cure for dengue death sting

Home cure for dengue death sting
Prithvijit Mitra, TNN Sep 12, 2012, 04.11AM IST
KOLKATA: It could be a miracle cure for dengue. And the best part is you can make it at home.
The juice of the humble papaya leaf has been seen to arrest the destruction of platelets that has been the cause for so many deaths this dengue season. Ayurveda researchers have found that enzymes in the papaya leaf can fight a host of viral infections, not just dengue, and can help regenerate platelets and white blood cells.
Scores of patients have benefited from the papaya leaf juice, say doctors.
Papaya has always been known to be good for the digestive system. Due to its rich vitamin and mineral content, it is a health freak's favourite. But its dengue -fighting properties have only recently been discovered.
Chymopapin and papin - enzymes in the papaya leaf - help revive platelet count, say experts.
"They have a role in regenerating healthy cells. So, it's perhaps possible to treat platelet fall with them. We need more research in this area," said a researcher at the National Institute for Ayurvedic Drug Development.
The juice has to be prepared from fresh papaya leaves, say the researchers. Devein the leaves and grind the green, pulpy part into a paste. You can also use a mixer.
The paste is very bitter and you would probably have to mix it with fruit juice. Doctors recommend 20-25 ml (about four to five teaspoons), twice a day, for at least a week to get the best results.
Several dengue patients have had a remarkable platelet recovery after taking papaya leaf juice, say family members and doctors.
Twenty-one-year-old Abhishek Majumdar, who was diagnosed with dengue last week, had a platelet count of 84,000 on September 6. He had high fever, frequent vomiting and was too weak to get out of bed. The same day, he started drinking the juice on his doctor's advice. In just three days, his platelet count had crossed 1 lakh. "Not only did his platelet count rise, he started showing signs of recovery within two days. It had a miraculous effect," said Abhijit Majumdar, his father.
Thirty-two-year-old Mamta Gupta, another dengue victim, started taking papaya leaf juice on September 2 when her platelet count had dropped to 70,000. She showed signs of rapid recovery and bounced back in just three days. "My platelet count has now crossed 450,000," she said on Tuesday.
Some doctors felt papaya leaf juice could cut out the need for platelet transfusion even in severe dengue cases. "At least six of my patients have had a platelet recovery within three days. In some cases, the revival has been quite dramatic. I have recommended it to all my dengue patients," said Debashish Basu, preventive medicine specialist.
Papaya enzymes might help revive white blood cells, agrees oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay. "Even though we recommend transfusion in severe cases, the juice could be an option for dengue patients who don't suffer a drastic fall overnight. Even if it merely assists the natural process of revival, it's worth consuming it," said Mukhopadhyay.
Medicine specialist Subrata Maitra feels such herbal options need to be explored. "It could be a good remedy because it helps the body's immune system revive the platelet count," said Maitra.
Home cure for dengue death sting

Expired drugs finds it way for resale in the market

— Photo: V. GanesanHUGE CATCH: Expired drugs being seized by police from a godown at Egmore, in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The Health Department will soon introduce a foolproof system for disposing of time-barred drugs, M. Bhaskaran, Director, Directorate of Drug Control, said on Wednesday.

The move follows the seizure of expired drugs that were sent to retail outlets with fake manufacture/expiry dates.

While seven persons were arrested and two surrendered in a city court on Tuesday, special teams were rushed to a neighbouring State to apprehend three prime suspects in the case.

“We have evolved a procedure that will ensure foolproof disposal of time-barred drugs. Because of timely intervention, we have been able to prevent large stocks of expired drugs from reaching the people. Drug Inspectors have been asked to look for three particular medicines that are being circulated with fake dates of manufacture or expiry. Pro-active steps are being taken to expose the entire nexus,” Mr. Bhaskaran told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The Chennai police seized expired drugs worth about Rs.1 crore from a godown here on Wednesday.

The medicines, mostly vitamin supplements in the form of tablets or tonic for pregnant women, were seized from the storage point of Sanjay Kumar, one of the prime suspects wanted in the case pertaining to sale of expired drugs.

“We are following some specific inputs and more seizures will follow soon. This is a very elaborate case and a special team of more than 60 police personnel are involved in the investigation and the arrest of accused persons. The seized medicines are being sent for forensic analysis,” Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said.

Asked if the recent death of a three-year-old girl in Pulianthope allegedly due to consumption of expired drugs was linked to this case, Mr. Rajendran said a Forensic Science Laboratory report was expected in that regard. Information on how and where the suspects managed to procure the expired drugs and who assisted them in circulating them to retail outlets would be known only after the arrest of the main suspects.

According to police sources, police and health officials launched an intensive operation to detect time-barred or spurious drugs across the State. Director-General of Police Letika Saran said instructions had been given to zonal Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to take appropriate action on complaints preferred by Drug Inspectors.

“This will be a joint operation in coordination with health officials. They (the health department) have listed certain companies indulging in the sale of expired drugs. We are assisting them in taking action against the persons involved,” Ms. Letika Saran added.
Foolproof disposal of expired drugs soon

Comment: India is besieged with spurious and expired drug racket. This is a multi million Rupee industry which is difficult to eliminate. Citizens need to be cautious and ensure prescribed drugs obtained from renowned and legal sources. ESM need to be more vigilant as some drugs prescibed by ECHS polyclinics are not available in its own dispensary and hence resort to purchase from the market.

Army Group Insurance Refund

Refund of Army Group Insurance Medical Benefit Scheme Subscription

1. Consequent to introduction of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) with effect from 01 Apr 2003, enrolment and subscription into AGIF Medical Benefit Scheme (MBS) was discontinued from the same day. The Medical Benefit Scheme of Army Group Insurance was closed on 01 Apr 2006 for its members.

2. Refund of MBS Subscription. All members of AGI MBS (Whether they have joined ECHS or not) who have not collected their refund of AGI MBS subscription from AGIF so far are advised to apply on a plain paper to AGIF at the address given below for the refund alongwith:
a) Membership of ECHS-Yes/No(This information is for data collection only)
b) Original MBS card issued by AGIF alongwith supplementary card if issued.
c) Details of Bank Account Number and address of Bank.
d) Present address of member.
e) Your contact Number if available.

3. For any further information, contact Army Group Insurance Fund:
a) Director(Claims): 011-26145709
b) MBS Section: 011-26142897 Extn 428
c) E-mail: armygroupinsurance@yahoo.co.in
d) FAX: 011-26148471
e) Address: Army Group Insurance Fund, AGI Bhawan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, PO Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057

4. Last date for refund is 31 MAR 2009.

Sd/-xxxxxxx
Brig JS Kanwar
Dir Adm & Secy AGIF