Former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan on Sunday urged the government to heighten efforts to research on alternative treatment for the dengue virus whose recorded victims nationwide, children and adults alike, has been rising and expected to reach 80,000 by the end of this year.
The Department of Health (Do) said dengue cases in the country started rising in May and peaked in July and August due to the El Nino phenomenon and the presence of all four strains of dengue.
As of Aug. 21, 2010, DoH recorded 62,503 cases, 88.8 percent higher than the 33,102 cases recorded in the same period in 2009, with death toll reaching 465 this year and 350 last year.
Galvez Tan, himself a herbalist, has been advocating for the production of herbal medicine to fight dengue, particularly the “tawa-tawa” known by its scientific name “Euphorbia hirta” after a serious scare hit the country some years back.
In a briefing with media, Galvez Tan said the government should invest some money to look into an alternative treatment for dengue, from a non-toxic larvicidal to herbal medicine.
He added that an initial P20 million or so could help health experts find out the genuine efficacy of the tawa-tawa plant.
But Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DoH National Epiddemiology Center, discouraged the public from using herbal medicine for dengue, saying dengue-affected patients should not depend on the use of herbal medicine, especially the tawa tawa to cure the dengue virus.
Dr. Tayag said that dengue-infected individuals should first take oresol oro or rehydration salt solution because tawa-tawa is not an oresol.
He said persons with dengue symptoms should resort to other alternatives like preparing one liter of water mixed with one spoonful of sugar and one spoonful of salt, and a patient with fever can take one glass every hour, or every two hours.
Dr. Tayag stressed DoH is open to, and still studying the healing property of tawa-tawa and until such a result is available, persons believe affected by dengue symptoms should consult a physician about their cases.
Tayag added that toxicologist Dr. Visitacion Antonio had earlier warned the public against using alternative medicines, for example, the tawa-tawa whose curing efficacy has yet to be certified by the DoH.
Among the warning signs of dengue at a critical stage are persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain and low platelet count.
Tayag said dengue patients should see a doctor to ensure their recovery.
Tan, however, insists that there is no ready alternative for dengue virus but there is a remedy to stop the real complication of dengue –the tawa-tawa, a known hemostatic that can prevent and stop bleeding and increase the platelet count of a person with dengue.
