Dengue fever is a type of infectious viral disease that is spread through virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. Humans can get infected with dengue fever when a virus-carrying Aedes mosquito bites a person, transferring the virus to their bodies. Fortunately, this disease cannot spread from one person to another. While most people suffer mild symptoms, the disease can be a bit more serious in rare cases. In extremely rare cases, dengue fever may even become life-threatening. If you are a parent, you should be on the lookout for dengue symptoms in your kids and get them the proper treatment if they end up contracting the disease.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever to Look Out for in Kids
You should keep an eye on your kids and check for any of the following symptoms. If your kids or family members show any of the symptoms given below, you should get them checked out by a doctor for dengue fever:
- Kids infected by dengue can get a very high fever, reaching up to 104F or 105F in rare cases.
- Your kids can exhibit flu-like symptoms like cough, running nose, and weakness but they are also common symptoms of dengue fever.
- One of the main symptoms of dengue is severe headache. If your kids are suffering from intense headaches, you should get them checked out.
- Your kids may also display some behavioral changes like irritability, loss of appetite, and disruptions in their sleeping patterns.
- Your kids may develop rashes all over their bodies, which is one of the main identifying symptoms of dengue fever.
- Another symptom of dengue fever that your kids may experience is intense bone and muscle pain.
- Bleeding from the nose and gums can also be a possible symptom of dengue fever.
Note: Although these are common dengue symptoms, they can also be an indication of other diseases. The best approach is to take your kids to a doctor so they can get the right treatment in time. Consider buying a dengue insurance plan for yourself and your kids that will cover the treatment and hospital expenses in case someone is infected with dengue.
Treatment for Dengue
Doctors can diagnose whether your child is suffering from dengue fever based on a blood test. While there are no specific treatment measures for dengue, some medications may be prescribed to help the recovery process. You can also help alleviate your kids’ symptoms by keeping them hydrated and well rested. You could also get some over-the-counter pain medications if your children are suffering from too much body pain or severe headaches. A healthy diet that will provide your kids with all the necessary nutrients is also very important in the recovery process. In most cases, dengue will go away on its own in a few weeks to a month. In very rare cases, they may require hospitalization. If you are worried about the treatment and medical expenses for your kids, you can consider buying a dengue insurance policy online.
Dengue Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent getting infected with dengue fever is to avoid getting bit by mosquitoes. There are several ways in which you can accomplish this:
- Install screen doors and screen windows in all the rooms of your house. This will allow for proper ventilation and lighting while keeping all the mosquitoes locked out of your house.
- If there are any uncovered sources of water in or around your house that are not changed or cleaned regularly, mosquitoes may breed there.
- When going outside, you can apply mosquito repellant cream on the parts of your body that are not covered by clothing. A good idea is to wear clothes with long sleeves.
- You can get an electric mosquito vapouriser that emits vapors repelling mosquitoes. You can also buy mosquito coils that can be burned to remove mosquitoes from the area.
- Mosquitoes hide in dark and shady places. So, make sure that all the rooms in your house get plenty of ventilation and natural light.
To Conclude
If you encourage your kids to take all of the above-given precautions, their risk of getting infected with dengue fever will go down significantly. Apart from all these tips, you should teach your kids to maintain good personal hygiene and wash their hands at frequent intervals. Inculcating healthy habits will help your kids avoid many infectious diseases in the future. However, if your kids start to develop any dengue symptoms, you should immediately take them to the doctor.
