It’s the rainy season again, mommy! One of the struggles of us parents is to protect our children from dengue. What are the symptoms of dengue in children that we should watch out for so that we can treat them immediately and prevent them from getting worse?
One of the diseases that parents fear is dengue. Because from a small mosquito bite, a child can develop a high fever, become weak, and be hospitalized.
With adults, it’s easier to tell if they’re feeling unwell because they can easily tell. But what about babies and young children? How do you know if your child has dengue?
Before we discuss the symptoms of dengue in children, let’s first learn what dengue is and its possible causes.
What is dengue?
According to Dr. Janette Calzada , a pediatric neurologist, dengue is a vector-borne disease or a disease transmitted to humans by moving carriers such as mosquitoes. She said such diseases are more prevalent in a tropical country like the Philippines.
The bite of a mosquito infected with dengue is the main cause of this disease. A mosquito acquires the dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue disease. This is how the virus spreads to other people.
However, there are also some cases where a pregnant woman can pass the dengue virus to her baby in her womb. It is also possible for dengue to be spread through blood transfusion or transplant using dirty needles that contain the dengue virus.
Image from Freepik
Symptoms of dengue in babies or children
Because the baby is not yet able to speak, it is difficult for parents to determine if the baby is feeling unwell.
But what are the symptoms of dengue in babies that parents should watch out for?
According to Dr. Calzada, the main symptom of dengue is fever.
“It’s really a fever that lasts 2 to 7 days. When the patient has a fever for three days, they need to see a doctor,” he said.
Some parents believe that if a child’s fever only occurs at night, it is a sign of dengue. However, the doctor explained that this is not the correct basis for determining if the child has dengue. He stated,
“Actually, the pattern of fever is different because we take paracetamol. So you don’t see if (the fever) is going down or up.”
So what you really look at is the duration. If he still has a fever on the third day, get him checked out. If you’re really not comfortable, it’s okay to consult even on day 1, go ahead.”
Dr. Calzada added that not all fevers are due to dengue. So it’s still best to observe if your child is showing other symptoms of dengue.
A baby may have dengue fever if he or she has a fever accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Becoming irritable, anxious, or sleepy
- Having rashes on the body
- Unusual bleeding from his gums or nose
- Vomiting three or more times a day
- Unusual bruises on the body
- Loss of appetite
- His fever doesn’t subside even after he’s been given medicine.
- Stomach ache (in older children)
- When there is body pain
The doctor also reminded,
“The only way to confirm it’s dengue or not is to get a blood test , to see if there is really a virus there in your body.”
That’s why it’s important that if your baby experiences these symptoms, take him to the doctor immediately to determine his condition and provide the right treatment for him.
Image from Freepik
Is there a cure for dengue?
According to Dr. Calzada, no exact medicine for dengue has yet been invented.
The best thing to do is to monitor the patient’s vital signs and treat the symptoms of dengue.
“So what’s really important with dengue is that his vitals are really stable, he’s well-hydrated because he doesn’t have any medicine,” he said.
If the child’s symptoms are not severe, dengue can be treated at home, with the guidance of his doctor. However, if he has difficulty eating and has a stomachache, especially for infants, it is better to take him to the doctor immediately.
He stated,
“We can handle dengue at home if we eat, but if they complain of not wanting to eat, stomach pain, it’s important to take them to the hospital because we need to monitor the child or it might get worse.”
The doctor emphasizes that it is necessary to closely monitor a child’s fever, especially if it is due to dengue.
“We’re making sure he’s not running a fever, his vital signs are normal, really supportive. There’s no cure for dengue.”
“When the fever goes away, that’s when the platelet count goes down. That’s when it leaks for 3 to 4 days and then the fluid returns to your veins. So if your dengue is mild, you can recover from that,” the doctor added.
If your child has a fever, you can give them paracetamol to control the fever and reduce body aches. Remember, never give them aspirin or ibuprofen.
When a child has a fever, they can become dehydrated more easily, which is very dangerous, especially for infants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are some signs that a child may be dehydrated:
- Malambot o lubog na bunbunan ni baby sa ulo
- Tuyong bibig, dila o labi
- Nanlalalim na mata
- Kakaunti o walang luha kapag umiiyak
- Mas kaunti ang ihi o basang diapers kumpara sa normal
Makakatulong kung iinom ang bata ng maraming tubig o fluids o kaya padededehin nang mas madalas upang hindi ma-dehydrate.
Kapag tumitindi na ang mga sintomas ng dengue at mayroon nang pagdurugo sa mga bahagi ng katawan, kinakailangan ang supportive care mula sa ospital lalo na ang blood transfusion.
Protektahan ang pamilya mula sa Dengue
Image from iStock
Since there is no vaccine against dengue available in our country, and it is not suitable for infants, the best way to prevent this deadly disease is to avoid mosquito bites.
“The best protection against mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes. We follow the four strategies as advised by DOH – Search and Destroy, seek early consultation, self-protection and say yes to fogging.” ani Dr. Calzada.
To ensure that there are no mosquitoes around you, make it a habit to clean the inside and outside of your house. Clean areas where mosquitoes can potentially nest, such as drains, roofs, dark areas, and objects where water is stored, such as buckets and pots.
Also make sure there are no holes in the screens on the windows and doors of your house.
Also, make it a habit to wear clothes that will protect your skin from mosquitoes, such as long sleeves and pants. You can also apply a mosquito patch or apply mosquito repellent lotion or spray with DEET to the skin, unless the baby is under 2 months old.
Additionally, using a mosquito net can help. Make sure your baby’s bed or crib has a mosquito net. You can also use a mosquito net on strollers or carriers when they are outside. Also, make sure your home is well ventilated. Mosquitoes are less active in cold environments, so strong winds from an electric fan or air conditioning can help.
Remember, dengue is very dangerous so it is better to avoid it for the safety of the entire family. And if any of you are experiencing symptoms of dengue, consult your doctor immediately.
By following these steps, the risk of dengue to infants as well as other family members will be reduced.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Philippines
