Dengue fever in kids: Here are some signs and symptoms you must look out for - India Today

Dengue is an aching mosquito-borne viral infection that is caused by an infected Aedes mosquito bite. Also known as break-bone fever, the dengue virus generally spreads in the monsoon season when the weather is warm and humid. Dengue is extremely common in tropical areas and it can also infect anyone within any age group, whether it's children or adults.

However, children are more prone to this disease as they play outdoors and are also not completely aware of the complexities of these mosquito bites.

The most common symptoms of dengue are fever, pain behind the eyes, headache, muscle, bone or joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue, commonly annunciated as den-gee, is a debilitating viral infection. Dengue virus is caused and spread by the infected Aedes mosquito bite. It leaves you with a high fever, headaches, pain in your eyes and entire body, fatigue etc. It basically causes a flu-like illness with mild to moderate symptoms, but sometimes it can even lead to severe fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.

Dengue fever in kids: Here are some signs and symptoms

Early identification of symptoms will help you with getting quick treatment before it's too late. Your child can't tell you if he/she is sick and the symptoms of dengue can quickly become severe. Therefore, you must be alert and watch out for the symptoms if you witness anything unusual in your child.

Sudden high fever, body ache, headache

If your child has a high fever or even a low body temperature (less than 36°C or 96.8°F) with any of the following symptoms:

• skin rashes
• nausea or vomiting (at least 3 times a day)
• unusual bleeding gums, mild nose bleeds
• bruising

Then, you must immediately consult medical experts. You can even try giving them cool water sponge baths to control fever.

Sleepiness, lack of energy or irritability in nature

Children have a growing immune system which can increase the negative impact of dengue fever on their bodies. Fever can drain the energy of your child, leading to a lack of energy, sleepiness or even irritability in nature.

Watch out for signs of dehydration

You must immediately seek medical help if your child shows or develops signs of dehydration. These signs can vary from moderate to severe dehydration, such as if your child urinates less frequently, has a dry mouth, tongue, lips, sunken soft spot on the head (in an infant's case) and few or no tears while crying. To control these symptoms, you can give plenty of fluids with added electrolytes.

How to diagnose dengue in babies?

Usually, the symptoms of dengue are mild to moderate in children. However, being late in diagnosing the symptoms can make the situation worse and lead to severe dengue fever known as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).

You are advised to confirm the dengue virus in your child through a blood test. A comprehensive blood test helps in identifying the severity of the dengue infection in children. The doctor could even inquire about the symptoms and exposure to mosquitoes of your baby.

READ MORE | Dengue fever: How to prevent dengue at home; tips for babies and children

READ MORE | Dengue fever: How to keep kids safe from mosquito bites?

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