Dengue fever, an illness transmitted by mosquitoes, is a viral infection that impacts a vast number of individuals every year across the globe. It is characterized by symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and in some cases, a decrease in platelet count. Platelets, being vital components of the blood, play a crucial role in the process of coagulation, ensuring the prevention of excessive hemorrhaging. Dengue can lead to a decrease in platelet count. While medical intervention is crucial in severe cases, certain foods can support platelet production and aid in recovery. Platelet Counts in Dengue In dengue fever, the virus affects the production and function of platelets, which can lead to a condition known as thrombocytopenia. In a healthy body, the standard quantity of platelets in circulation within a microliter of blood falls within the range of 150,000 to 450,000 platelets. However, during dengue fever, the platelet count can drop significantly, putting individuals at risk of bleeding.  Platelet counts below 150,000 are considered low. And when the platelet count falls below 100,000 platelets per microliter of blood, it is considered a risk zone, and immediate medical attention is required. It is essential to monitor platelet levels regularly during dengue fever to ensure appropriate medical intervention if necessary. Read more: Dengue Prevention: 10 Home Remedies to Repel Mosquitoes Best Foods to Increase Platelets in Dengue Fever Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is vital for supporting the immune system and aiding in the recovery from dengue fever. Here are some of the best foods that can help increase platelet counts during dengue fever. Papaya Papaya is rich in vitamin C, which plays a crucial role in boosting platelet production. It also contains enzymes like papain that help improve digestion. Consuming ripe papaya or drinking fresh papaya juice can be beneficial. In Bangladesh, papaya is readily available and can be included in the diet easily. Try to have 1-2 servings of papaya daily.  Pomegranate Pomegranate is a powerhouse of antioxidants and essential nutrients. It can help stimulate the production of platelets and improve overall blood circulation. Including fresh pomegranate juice or adding pomegranate seeds to salads or yogurt can be a healthy choice. Attempt for 1-2 servings of pomegranate daily. Read more: Exploring Dengue Diagnosis: The Essential Tests for Detecting the Virus Leafy green vegetables Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and fenugreek leaves are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They help in increasing platelet counts and boosting overall immunity. These vegetables are commonly found in Bangladesh and can be incorporated into meals or consumed as salads. It would be better to have 2-3 servings of vegetables per day. Beetroot Beetroot is rich in iron and folic acid, which are essential for maintaining healthy blood and increasing platelet production. It also contains antioxidants that help in detoxification. Including beetroot in salads or consuming freshly extracted beetroot juice can be beneficial. You may consume 1-2 servings of beetroot daily.

Every year a huge population is affected by Dengue fever. The main risk factor of dengue is the reduction of blood’s platelet level to a great extent that it could be fatal. The body requires sufficient vitamins, minerals, and protein to produce platelets. Patients diagnosed with dengue fever, need to consume the right diet for a fast recovery from dengue fever. Let’s take a look at the recommended foods and drinks during dengue fever.  Best Foods and Drinks for Dengue Papaya leaves Different studies have shown that the extract of the leaves of papaya is used as a complementary treatment for disorders of platelet function. Juice of Papaya leaves can help in increasing the platelet count in blood and boosts the immunity of your body.  Enzymes like papain and chymopapain are available in papaya extracts that prevent bloating and other digestive disorders. Papaya leaves juice is considered to be one of the best food items to increase platelets in the blood of patients suffering from dengue fever. Read Dengue Fever: Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention Vegetables Dengue patients should eat vegetables like spinach, pumpkin, paprika, carrot, watercress, celery, broccoli, and beetroot to trigger the platelet levels in the blood. These vegetables help you purify your body. Make sure the vegetables are properly washed and cleaned before eating or cooking.  Spinach is enriched with protein and Vitamin K. These vitamins participate in the metabolism of coagulation factors and help to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding. Take pumpkin with seeds, as they have amino acids and vitamins essential for platelet formation. If you regularly eat pumpkin, including seeds, it improves the absorption of proteins and vitamin A. These nutrients participate in the production of these small cells. Read Why do Mosquitoes bite me so much? Beetroot is rich in antioxidants that help prevent platelet reduction due to the effects of free radicals. It has vitamins A, C, and K and essential minerals, that help prevent the deterioration of blood vessels and the development of circulatory problems. By drinking beetroot juice regularly Dengue patients can strengthen their body's immunity. Fruits To increase the platelet count in the blood Dengue patients need both Vitamin C and Vitamin K. So while recovering from Dengue, the patients need to eat citrus fruits like lemon, orange, kiwi, or tangerines, and other fruits like strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, or currants also.  Green Coconut water Green coconut water is always best and it has huge health benefits. It is also a popular and effective drink to raise platelet levels. Coconut water bestows vitamins A, B, and C, and minerals, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus also.  Read Conjunctivitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Besides, it is perfect for dengue patients as they experience dehydration as a result of high fever, diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, and nausea during the febrile phase (days 4-6).   Nuts As nuts and almonds are good sources of proteins and proteins are essential for normal platelet count, Dengue patients can take sufficient amounts of nuts during dengue fever.  Aloe Vera  Aloe Vera is full of nutrients including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sodium, copper, and vitamins C, E, and B.  Read 10 houseplants that are bad for your pets Therefore, aloe vera juice has huge medicinal applications and it is an excellent ally in taking care of cardiovascular health and promoting platelet production in blood. Dengue patients can keep this food in their diet. Yogurt Yogurt is known for having probiotics-active bacteria. These active bacteria are very useful for keeping the intestines free of harmful germs and bacteria that are capable of causing diseases.  Dengue patients need to take Yogurt regularly to keep their defenses high. But not more than 150 grams of yogurt a day to get its healing benefits. Read How to entertain an unwell child without screen time Chicken Soup Scientific evidence is available that chicken soup is great to stop the symptoms of colds and flu. Chicken soup is rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Carnosine.  These nutrients are essential to stimulating the defenses so that healing is carried out quickly. It will also help Dengue patients stay hydrated and raise the temperature of the airways, which is very effective in loosening mucus. Green tea Green tea is called one of the most popular healing drinks. It has a high content of polyphenols, very valuable anti-oxidant compounds with immunostimulatory effects. Read Best foods for expecting mothers A scientific study shows that a particular type of phenolic compound, called catechins, has the ability to eliminate some types of influenza viruses. So, green tea should be included in the Dengue fever diet.   Neem Leaves Neem leaves are blessed with chemicals such as Nimbin and Nimbidin that have anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Research shows that these leaves have positive results in treating dengue by increasing blood platelets and white blood cell count. Read How to Apply for Indian Medical Visa from Bangladesh Foods and Drinks to Avoid while Recovering from Dengue Fever Patients need to avoid certain foods that contain salicylates when infected with dengue fever. These types of food make blood thinner and slow clotting.  Non-vegetarian Foods During the infection of dengue fever the human body becomes weak, the digestive system slows down, and non-vegetarian food does not easily digest. Therefore, while recovering from dengue fever, patients must strictly avoid non-vegetarian food.  Fried or Oily Foods Dengue patients should also avoid oily foods burgers, pizza, potato chips, fried chicken, doughnuts, etc as these foods contain an increased amount of fat and can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol.  Read How to Stay Physically Active during Pregnancy Spicy Foods Don’t take spicy foods at all during dengue fever as they can cause acid accumulation in the stomach and result in ulcers and damage to the wall. Eating these types of food during dengue infection may hinder the recovery process. Caffeinated Beverages Dengue fever causes dehydration and hence Dengue patients must drink plenty of fluids. Remember, caffeine, i.e. caffeinated beverages can revive the gastronomical tract, leading to nausea and diarrhea.  Besides, this type of beverage can increase the symptoms and production of stomach acid and cause rapid heart rate, and muscle breakdown which can hinder the dengue recovery process.  Read Should You See a Therapist? 8 Surefire Signs You Need Help Bottom Line Dengue is a curable disease but a little carelessness can cause serious issues and lead to death also. Hence, you need to be conscious about taking food and drinks. We have discussed here the foods and drinks to eat and avoid during dengue fever for quick recovery. Hope it helps!