Rupatadine to control Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever | Page 3 | Sunday Observer

Rupatadine to control Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

16 July, 2017

Medical experts attached to the Jayewardenapura University Medical Faculty are researching on a drug that would probably block fluid leakage among patients suffering from Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF).

Rupatadine which is widely used to treat certain allergic conditions had shown positive results, according to Prof. Neelika Malavige, Immunologist and Director of the J’pura Medical Faculty’s Centre for Dengue Research.

“We have found a way to block fluid leakage in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) patients using this clinically safe drug,” she said.

“The drug will hopefully reduce the occurrence of DHF in patients infected with the dengue virus. Currently DHF is associated with the high probability of death unless the condition, at the critical stage, is clinically managed through closely regulated fluid intake and output,” the Professor said.

This drug has overcome the first clinical trial at the Dengue Unit of the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda, and is awaiting the second clinical trial at the OPD of the IDH. A sample of 183 patients was used for the first trial, ‘Randomized Placebo Control Trial’.

The clinical trials are being conducted with the blessings of the Health Ministry and other State agencies, Prof. Malavige said.

In the meantime, the number of dengue patients stood at 90,865 by Friday. With over 300 deaths.

The huge increase in patients this year compared to 55,150 dengue patients in 2016 and 29,777 in 2015, indicates that the disease is beyond control and reached critical proportions.

 

FINALLY, A PROMISING DRUG

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