What are the symptoms of dengue fever in children and how to prevent it

Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease spread by mosquitoes. Patients will experience symptoms such as high fever, rash, joint and muscle pain. In order to prevent children from being infected with dengue fever, it is best to stay away from epidemic areas and keep the home environment clean.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

High fever: High fever is one of the characteristics of dengue fever. Doctors will confuse a high fever with other viral fevers if it exceeds 40 degrees, so it is recommended to get tested for dengue fever if you have a fever.

Joint and muscle pain: Another obvious symptom of dengue fever is joint pain. However, this symptom is easily confused with viral fever or other forms of malaria, so it needs to be combined with other symptoms.

Swollen lymph nodes: The World Health Organization describes swollen lymph nodes as another characteristic symptom of dengue fever. However, lymph nodes can also be caused by infection, so other symptoms should be considered.

Pain behind the eye: This is also called orbital pain. It is a common symptom of a viral fever, so it is easy to confuse it. It should be combined with other symptoms to diagnose dengue fever.

Headache and diarrhea: Dengue patients often experience headaches due to a sudden drop in the number of platelets. Along with abdominal pain, diarrhea is another common symptom, and rashes may appear all over the body.

Extreme fatigue: The World Health Organization states that this is a symptom of severe dengue fever. Due to the decrease in the number of platelets, patients often experience extreme fatigue. Extreme fatigue and high fever are indicators of severe dengue fever.

Low blood pressure may occur: Low blood pressure is caused by a rapid drop in the number of platelets, which is another symptom of severe dengue fever and requires immediate treatment, otherwise it will be dangerous.

Vomiting and nausea: Vomiting and nausea are common symptoms in dengue patients. According to the World Health Organization, if you vomit blood, it is a severe dengue fever and you need to seek medical attention immediately.

Bleeding gums: Another symptom of severe dengue fever is bleeding gums, according to the World Health Organization. Bleeding gums are a sign that the patient's platelet count has dropped to dangerous levels and that they need to see a doctor immediately.

How to treat dengue fever

Lower body temperature: For patients with high fever, physical cooling should be used first, such as ice compresses and alcohol baths, and painkillers and antipyretics should be used with caution. For patients with persistent high fever and severe toxic blood symptoms, small doses of adrenocortical hormones, such as oral prednisone, can be used for a short period of time.

Rehydration: For patients with excessive sweating and diarrhea, oral rehydration should be given first, and attention should be paid to the balance of water, electrolytes and acid-base. If necessary, intravenous rehydration should be used to correct dehydration, hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis, but the possibility of inducing cerebral edema, intracranial hypertension and brain herniation should always be vigilant.

Reduce intracranial pressure: For patients with severe headaches and intracranial hypertension, 20% mannitol injection should be promptly administered with rapid intravenous drip. At the same time, intravenous drip of dexamethasone can help reduce brain edema and intracranial pressure. For patients with suppressed respiratory centers, artificial respirators should be used in a timely manner.

How to prevent dengue fever

Specific laboratory tests should be carried out as soon as possible to identify mild patients. Border health quarantine should be strengthened.

Cut off the transmission route. Mosquito prevention and killing are the fundamental measures to prevent this disease. Improve the sanitary environment, eliminate the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes, and clean up stagnant water. Spray mosquito killers to kill adult mosquitoes.

Improve people's resistance to disease, pay attention to a balanced diet, combine work and rest, exercise appropriately, and enhance physical fitness.

The vaccine is still in the development and testing stage.