Skip to main content
Dengue
Infectious Diseases

Dengue – causes, symptoms, prevention, diagnosis, risk factors

admin Feb 23, 2024

Dengue virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected tiger mosquito. It is seasonal disease occurs mostly during rainy and post rainy season. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person.

Symptoms of Dengue fever?

Symptoms, which usually begins three to six days after bite: may include

  • Sudden onset high fever (102-104F), which can be continuous
  • Weakness, child tries to be bet or mother’s lap only
  • Loss of appetite
  • Severe headache, eye pain
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Nausea & Vomiting
  • Reddish Skin rash, which appears three to four days after the onset of fever
  • Pain abdomen
  • Bleeding (mild - nose bleed, bleeding gums, severe if in vomiting, stool, urine)

Younger children and people who had the infection 1st time tends to have milder disease than older children and adults. 

Most children have milder disease, starts recovering on 3-4th day, but at same time some children show sudden and sometimes dramatic progression of disease, especially a day or two after the fever subsides. So, parents should be watchful if child is not looking well when fever starts getting down.

These include dengue haemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death. 

Risk factors

People with weakened immune systems, over-weight or obese child, or children with underlying liver, kidney or any chronic disease. 

When to consult

If your child has any of the symptoms of Dengue (fever, dullness, body aches, vomiting, and abdominal pain), you must consult a doctor.

Diagnosis?

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus (with PCR on 1st day of fever) or with antibodies (usually after 5days of fever) to it.

Treatment of Dengue fever

There is no anti-dengue medicine to treat dengue infection. Antibiotics do not kill dengue virus, so should not be given. Paracetamol is given for pain and fever and aspirin should be avoided.

 Rest and plenty of oral fluids are recommended, along with regular consultation with the doctor. If your child starts to feel worse in the first 24 hours after his fever goes down, you should get him to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.

Complicated cases of Dengue fever need to be hospitalized, treated, and monitored. The treatment mainly consists of intravenous fluids given judiciously under physician guidance. Monitoring involves serial heart rate, blood pressure, and urine output, along with other blood tests to monitor disease progression.

Prevention

The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent bites from infected mosquitoes.

Protect yourself to protect your family and society:

  • Use mosquito repellents (odomas), even indoors, apply on exposed skin areas-legs, arms, face, neck, lower abdomen.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.
  • Use mosquito nets.

Environmental protection to reduce the mosquito population, get rid of places where mosquitoes can breed. Rain water in old tires, cans, or flower pots placed on roof, backyard, open plots. Regularly change the water in outdoor bird baths and pets' water dishes, cooler/ fridge water

If someone in your home gets dengue fever, be especially vigilant about efforts to protect yourself and other family members from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that bite the infected family member could spread the infection to others.

 

Vaccine to prevent dengue fever is not licenced in India.

Categories

Clear all

Related Blogs

View all
Dengue Prevention Tips
Infectious Diseases

Dengue Prevention Tips

Dr. Neha Rastogi Aug 28, 2023
Honeybee Sting
Infectious Diseases

Bee-Ware: What to do if a Honeybee stings you?

admin Feb 15, 2024
Dengue Fever in Children
Infectious Diseases

Dengue Fever in Children: Know its Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

admin Feb 23, 2024
Antibiotic Resistance
Infectious Diseases

Navigating Steps Against Antibiotic Resistance

admin Feb 27, 2024
Fever
Infectious Diseases

Fever: Causes, Types, and Effective Management for Early Recovery

admin Feb 28, 2024
What is Bronchiolitis
Infectious Diseases

All You Need to Know About Bronchiolitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

admin Mar 22, 2024
What Is Mumps Disease
Infectious Diseases

What Is Mumps Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

admin Mar 28, 2024
Typhoid Vaccine
Infectious Diseases

The Role of Typhoid Vaccine as a Savior in Modern Times

admin Apr 17, 2024
Typhoid Fever
Infectious Diseases

Unmasking Typhoid Fever: The Hidden Realities of a Deadly Disease

admin Apr 19, 2024
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome
Infectious Diseases

Effective Management Techniques for Acute Encephalitis Syndrome

admin Apr 24, 2024

Quick Enquiry Form

barqut

Keep track of your appointments, get updates & more!

app-store google-play
Request callback