KOZHIKODE: Hot debate on the effectiveness of Papaya in curing dengue is the big happening now. It develops into the slugfest between modern medicine and the rest and between superstitious and scientific temperament. But regardless of its scientific basis, dengue affected people largely depend on Papaya. Some are taking it as juice out of tender leaves, a few using it as spinach along with porridge and yet another eating raw Papaya.
“There is no scientific base to establish that Papaya has any property to enhance blood platelet count. This propaganda is here since 2005. Platelet count of a dengue patient is an indicator only and over stress on this indicator is unwanted,“ says Dr Deepu Sadasivan of Infoclinic, a Facebook collective of doctors. He added that proper treatment with a good intake of liquid and sufficient rest would cure dengue except in cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
IMA state president Dr V.G. Pradeep Kumar also shares the opinion. “Some are exploiting the hapless situation to make quick bucks. There is no scientific base to any such panacea,” he remarked. Kozhikode District Medical Officer (Ayurveda) Dr O.K. Sherly said that ministry of Ayush had introduced a tablet made out of Papaya extracts, now available in North India.
“In Ayurveda syllabus also, there is no reference to the dengue curing power of Papaya. But people are largely using it,” she said. She added that few patients having acidity had developed minor side effects after taking the Papaya treatment. Whatsapp messages are doing the rounds in the names of Ayurveda, Homeo physicians advertising their self-developed solutions for dengue. Kiwi is another fruit which is the most sought after in dengue times. The exported fruit’s price has soared from '27 per piece to '40 now in Kozhikode market.
