Clinical effects of papaya leaf extracts to the haematological parameters of a classical Dengue patient

Background: Dengue is a remarkable, vector-borne viral disease in Sri Lanka, accounts for hundreds of deaths annually. Antibody-dependent infection enhancement, requirement of a single compound covering its all 4 serotypes, makes it difficult to produce a vaccine on prevention. Thus apart from preventing the disease with vector control, continuous studies are required for novel techniques to reduce the outcomes and complications of dengue fever and to prevent converting of DF to DHF. Objectives: To design a single centered, retrospective cohort study to evaluate the effect of papaya leaves (Carica papaya) to thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and lymphocytosis caused by dengue fever with respective to the recent Malaysian study on improving the thrombocytopenia of a DF patient within 40-48 hours upon administration of papaya. Method: A 16 year old NS1 positive, in-ward treating boy (n=1) has been orally administered with concentrated papaya leaf extract 5ml twice a day on day 6 of fever as a naturopathic supplement without any allopathic medical advice. The in-ward monitored components of his FBC were graphed against the time retrospectively. Results: It is noted that the gradient of the inversed curve of platelet count over time has decreased within 3 hours from the initial administration and by 48 hours the platelet count was increasing, reversing the inversion. The total WBC count also has started increasing and the developing neutropenia and lymphocytosis were improved by 48 hours upon administration. Also the patient did not develop DHF and recovered uneventfully without any ICU admissions. Conclusions: The improvement of the condition within above time frame could be due to various factors including natural host response with or without the foresaid supplement. But the above context depicts the capability of further research in deploying Carica papaya leaf extracts as a novel treatment on Dengue fever patients without causing any negative medical impact