Dengue Shock Syndrome, Anaphylaxis, and Homeopathic Medicine

We would like to share ideas on “Dengue Shock Syndrome: its similarity with anaphylaxis and with the homeopathic medicine Apis mellifica (European Honeybee)”[1]. The author, Richardson-Boedler, stated that “The homeopathic medicine Apis mellifica indicates plasma leak, shock, and the serous effusion which is noted in dengue patients, and is a suggested prophylactic and therapeutic medicine for dengue shock syndrome”[1]. We agree that a similarity exists and that management with homeopathic medicine might be useful. However, there are still some differences between dengue and anaphylaxis, such as the lack of hypersensitivity in the former: in dengue, the main abnormal white blood cell is the lymphocyte, but the main abnormal white blood cell in hypersensitivity is the eosinophil or the basophil. Additionally, dengue progresses gradually and takes time whilst anaphylaxis is sudden and might be self-limited.[2] A key feature for dengue management is fluid replacement therapy.[2] If homeopathic medicine were applied to the clinical management of dengue, these important additional factors would have to be recognized.

Publication History

Article published online:
04 March 2022

• References

• 1 Richardson-Boedler C. Dengue shock syndrome: its similarity with anaphylaxis and with the homeopathic medicine Apis mellifica (European Honeybee). Homeopathy 2021; (e-pub ahead of print) DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1734027.
• 2 Wiwanitkit V. Dengue fever: diagnosis and treatment. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2010; 8: 841-845