- Symptoms of dengue in children
- Signs of dengue complications
- Dengue diagnosis
- Dengue treatment
- Because the child may have dengue more than once
The child may have dengue fever when he has symptoms such as fever and lack of appetite, which are more worrisome in times of disease epidemic. However, dengue in children is not always accompanied by symptoms, so it is often only identified when it is already in a severe stage.
In general, children show the same signs of age-related illnesses, such as the flu, which can confuse parents. The diagnosis of dengue is made through a blood test that identifies the virus, and only when the disease is discovered early, can the child be treated at home.
Symptoms of dengue in children
The child with dengue may have no symptoms or flu-like symptoms, so the disease often passes quickly to the severe stage without being noticed. In general, the symptoms are:
- Apathy and muscle weakness; Drowsiness; High fever, sudden onset and lasting between 2 and 7 days; Headache; Refusal of food and liquids; Vomiting; Diarrhea or loose stools; Bleeding in the nose or gums; Red spots on the skin.
In children under 2 years old, symptoms such as headache and muscle pain can be identified by persistent crying and irritability. In the initial stage of dengue there are no respiratory symptoms, however what often causes parents to confuse dengue with the flu is fever, which can happen in both cases.
Signs of dengue complications
The main signs of dengue complications in children appear between the 3rd and 7th day of the disease, when the fever passes. These signs are:
- Frequent vomiting; Severe abdominal pain, which does not go away; Swollen belly; Difficulty breathing; Drowsiness; Irritability; Delirium; Memory loss; Temperature below 35 ° C.
In general, dengue fever in children worsens rapidly and the appearance of these signs is an alert for the onset of the severe form of the disease. Thus, the pediatrician should be sought out as soon as the first symptoms appear, so that the disease is identified before going into the severe form.
Dengue diagnosis
The diagnosis of dengue is made through a blood test to assess the presence of the virus. However, the result of this test takes a few days, and the doctor starts treatment as soon as signs of the disease are identified in the child.
Dengue treatment
Dengue treatment begins as soon as symptoms are identified, even without confirmation of the diagnosis by blood test. The type of treatment that will be used depends on the severity of the disease, and only in the mildest cases can the child be treated at home. In general, treatment includes:
- Fluid intake; Serum through the vein; Medicines to control the symptoms of fever, pain and vomiting.
In the most severe cases, the child must be admitted to the ICU. Usually dengue lasts for about 10 days, but full recovery can take 2 to 4 weeks.
Because the child may have dengue more than once
All people, children and adults, can have dengue again, even if they have had the disease before. As there are 4 different viruses for dengue, the person who got dengue once is immune only to that virus, being able to catch even 3 more different types of dengue. In addition, it is common for people who have had dengue to develop hemorrhagic dengue, and for this reason, preventive care for the disease must be maintained. Learn how to make a homemade repellent at: dengue prevention.
