CARICA PAPAYA LEAF EXTRACT FOR TREATING THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN DENGUE FEVER- AN EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN EASTERN PART OF INDIA

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever is the most common arboviral mosquito-borne tropical disease of humans caused by the dengue virus. The incidence has increased many fold in India due to unplanned urbanization and migration of population to urban areas. Aim -To study if Carica papaya leaf extract will significantly increase the platelet count in cases of thrombocytopenia associated with Dengue fever. Materials and Methods- The case control study was conducted in the Department of Medicine of Tata Main Hospital,Jamshedpur.All participants were randomised into two groups, study group (n=50) and control group (50); the study group was given papaya leaf extract capsule of 1100 mg thrice daily for five days but the control group did not receive it. The basic supportive treatment of dengue fever was provided to both the groups. Results- On the first day,platelet count of study group and control group was (63.68 ± 16.88, 3 and 57.07 ± 17.46×10 respectively, p value=0.0573). The mean platelet count on Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 of CPC 3 3 3 administration (mean± S.D) was 80.34 ± 18.54×10 ,104.14 ± 20.42×10 ,135.08 ± 19.91×10 in the case group and 64.48 ± 3 3 3 17.02×10 ,77.02 ± 16.88×10 ,100.70 ± 18.33×10 in the control group respectively.The mean duration of stay in the study group was 4.6± 0.67 days and 6.76±1.54 days in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion- Carica papaya leaves extract capsules offer a cheap and possibly effective treatment for increasing the platelet count in dengue