Outbreaks of Zika fever occur in all countries of the world. According to WHO, recent outbreaks have been reported in countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Barbados, Saint Martin, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Samoa and Cape Verde. There is no cure for Zika, but home remedies and certain medications can help ease the course of the illness and speed up recovery.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Home Remedies
Step 1. Avoid dehydration
To recover from Zika fever, you must drink enough fluids. The disease contributes to dehydration, and especially an increase in body temperature. Drink at least the physiological norm of water every day (8 cups of water), and preferably more.
- Drink caffeine-free teas and / or sports drinks to stay hydrated.
- Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol until you recover, as these drinks can contribute to dehydration.
Step 2. Get more rest
The best and easiest way to strengthen your immune system is to rest. Sleep at least eight hours each night until you recover from Zika.
- You will need to give up work for a few days to avoid stressful situations and physical overstrain.
- Try relaxing activities such as reading a good book, watching a good program on TV, or listening to music.
Step 3. Strengthening the immune system
Use natural methods to strengthen your immune system to fight Zika. Remember, research has yet to prove that taking supplements or vitamins helps in strengthening the immune system. While the research is rather inconclusive and shows little (or no) effect, it's worth a try.
- Vitamin C. Take 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C daily to boost your immune system.
- Zinc The recommended zinc dosage is 11 mg for adult men and 8 mg for women.
- Garlic. Try drinking tea from a couple of cloves of minced garlic, or simply adding a couple of cloves of garlic to your meal.
- Echinacea Drinking a couple of cups of echinacea tea daily will help you recover faster. You can take Echinacea capsules (300 mg daily, three times a day).
Method 2 of 2: Medicines
Step 1. See your doctor if symptoms appear
Most Zika fever does not require medication. You just need to stay at home and rest until complete recovery. However, if you develop symptoms or pain that you cannot manage on your own, see your doctor.
Zika disease is similar to dengue and chikungunya fever, so you need to see your doctor for a diagnosis. The doctor will need a blood sample - only a blood test can detect the Zika virus or other pathogens
Step 2. Use paracetamol to relieve pain
To combat symptoms of fever and / or pain (Zika fever causes muscle soreness), take acetaminophen. Paracetamol is available over the counter without a prescription.
The usual dose is 500 to 1000 mg every four to six hours. Do not exceed the recommended dosage
Step 3. Don't take aspirin or ibuprofen
Until a diagnosis of Zika has been made, do not take ibuprofen or aspirin. The point is, if you have dengue and not Zika (both are transmitted by mosquito bites), these drugs increase your risk of bleeding.
Step 4. Pay attention to complications
As you recover, be aware of the potential risk of complications. In most cases, recovery takes one week. Be aware of the possible complications that may arise after recovery. Complications include:
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome. After you recover, look for unusual symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in your feet or lower extremities. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease that manifests itself after a viral infection. Damage to the outer sheath of the nerve contributes to a feeling of numbness and even paralysis. Guillain-Barré Syndrome begins in the feet and lower legs and should see a doctor as early as possible when these symptoms appear.
- Microcephaly. If you have had Zika and found you were pregnant (or were pregnant when you became infected), then there is a chance of microcephaly in your baby. Microcephaly is the abnormally small volume of the head, which contributes to developmental delay, dementia and, in severe cases, even death. A pregnant woman who has recovered from Zika, or a woman trying to conceive, should see a doctor when symptoms appear or after visiting these countries to prevent any negative consequences for her child.