Effect of Carica Papaya Leaves Juice on Duration of Hospital Stay among Children with Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

Abstract

Background: Over the last 10-15 years, dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) have become the leading causes of hospitalization and death among both children and adult. Carica papaya leaves juice is said to increase platelet count, reduce complication and duration of Hospital stay. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of Carica papaya leaf juice on duration of Hospital stay in child patients with DF and DHF. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 77 children with DF and DHF. Patients were purposively selected from the inpatient department of Dhaka Shishu hospital from July 2018 to December 2019. Patients were randomly allocated in group A and group B. Group A patients received standard treatment along with a bottle containing C. papaya leaves juice 10 ml single morning dose 15 minutes after breakfast for three consecutive days and group B patients received only standard management as per the National Guideline for Clinical Management of Dengue Syndrome, 2018. Three patients in group A and two patients in group B dropped out from the study. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding age, sex, mean duration, type and severity of fever between the groups (p>.05). In group A, the mean platelet count increased from 105000.00/ mL to 152428.57/mL after 48 hours and it reached to 212228.57/mL at 72hrs. In group B, the mean platelet count initially decreased from 129485.71/ mL to 91114.28/mL after 48 hours and then it increased to 96142.85/mL at 72 hours. There was highly significant statistical difference between group A and group B at 48 hours and at 72 hours regarding mean platelet count as p <0.001. Haematocrit values become significantly normal in group A than group B by 72 hours and p value ˂0.05. There was highly significant statistical difference between group A and group B regarding mean hospital stay as p <0.001. Conclusion: Administration of Carica papaya leaf juice shorten hospitalization in patients with Dengue fever and Dengue haemorrhagic fever.