Effect of Adjuvant Homeopathy with Usual Care in Management of Thrombocytopenia Due to Dengue: A Comparative Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Dengue is an emerging threat to public health. At present, no clear modalities are available for the prevention and management of thrombocytopenia due to dengue. This article reports the clinical outcomes of integrative homeopathic care in a hospital setting during a severe outbreak of dengue in New Delhi, India, during the period September to December 2015. Methods Based on preference, 138 patients received a homeopathic medicine along with usual care (H+UC), and 145 patients received usual care (UC) alone. Assessment of thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000/mm3) was the main outcome measure. Kaplan–Meier analysis enabled comparison of the time taken to reach a platelet count of 100,000/mm3. Results There was a statistically significantly greater rise in platelet count on day 1 of follow-up in the H+UC group compared with UC alone (mean difference = 12,337; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5,421 to 19,252; p = 0.001). This trend persisted until day 5 (mean difference = 14,809; 95% CI, 1,615 to 28,004; p = 0.02). The time taken to reach a platelet count of 100,000/mm3 was nearly 2 days earlier in the H+UC group compared with UC alone (H+UC: 3.44 days ± standard error of the mean [SEM] 0.18; 95% CI, 3.08 to 3.80; UC: 5.28 days ± SEM 0.29; 95% CI, 4.71 to 5.86; p < 0.001). Conclusion These results suggest a positive role of adjuvant homeopathy in thrombocytopenia due to dengue. Randomized controlled trials may be conducted to obtain more insight into the comparative effectiveness of this integrative approach.

A Brief Account of Homoeopathic Approach to Fight COVID-19 Disaster

“…In the dengue haemorrhagic fever study, add-on homoeopathy could bring early improvement in increasing platelet count and curtailing the in-hospital stay by 2 days. 26 In acute encephalitis syndrome/Japanese encephalitis study, homeopathy as an adjuvant to the institutional management protocol could decrease death rate by 15% in comparison to those who received only institutional management protocol. 27 Notably in both the studies, no adverse effects were found.…”

Recommendations for Designing, Conducting and Reporting Observational Studies in Homeopathy

“…An Indian comparative observational study on thrombocytopenia due to dengue fever, conducted at an allopathic hospital set-up, resulted in better results of adjuvant homeopathy compared with usual care alone in increasing the platelet counts. 37 Another Indian comparative study on patients with acute encephalitis syndrome showed reduction in mortality and morbidity in the group administered adjuvant homeopathy to standard institutional management protocols compared with standard therapy alone. 38 Another method to minimize confounding and bias before starting a study (at baseline) is to control using a matching technique.…”

HRI London 2019: 10 Years of Excellence in Homeopathy Research

“…8 In India, such patient-centred approaches to studying the impact of homeopathy in public healthcare are already being performed on a large scale, often in resource-limited situations. Dr Debadatta Nayak showed how individualised homeopathy can play a role in the management of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count) associated with Dengue, alongside conventional care 9 ; Dr Raj Manchanda presented encouraging positive results from a trial of homeopathy, used as an adjunct to conventional medicine, in the treatment of encephalitis in children 10 ; and Dr Anil Khurana presented the results of a public health initiative involving use of a six-remedy kit to promote healthy development in the teething stage in 11,426 children. 11…”