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9 serious symptoms of dengue in babies that you need to look out for

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus. It causes headaches, high fever, rashes and pain throughout the body. People who are suffering from this disease have fever for mostly 10 days. With early diagnosis, treatment and care they can recover quickly. Some people get affected by a more severe illness called the dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF. It can be fatal if not treated properly.

Contents

Serious symptoms of dengue in babies
Prevention of dengue in babies

The mosquito carrying the dengue virus is the Aedes mosquito. This disease does not spread through physical contact between people. They spread only through the mosquito bites.

How dengue occurs and spreads?

The female tiger mosquito spreads the dengue virus. The mosquitoes with the dengue virus bite during the day time unlike other mosquitoes. Their biting period is early morning or the evening before dusk. They breed mostly in stagnant water, humid and warm weather conditions. If there is any stagnant water around then that place is most likely to become the breeding ground for mosquitoes with the dengue virus.

Serious symptoms of dengue in babies

Babies who are under the age of 12 months are more likely to develop a severe case of dengue fever. Sometimes the symptoms of dengue in babies are not prominent so you may confuse dengue fever with viral fever. Dengue usually lasts for 10 days but most people and mostly babies might feel tired for a month.

There are certain symptoms of dengue in babies that you need to look out for. Some of these symptoms are as follows:

 The baby suddenly has a high fever of 100.4F or sometimes a low temperature of less than 96.8F.

 The baby suffers from pain behind the eyes.

 Severe headaches and body aches are also common in babies with dengue.

 The baby also suffer from nausea.

 Vomiting is a symptom in babies suffering from the dengue fever.

 Excess of body pain, especially around joints and muscle areas happens.

 Rashes on skin, which generally appears a couple of days after the high fever.

 Mild nose bleeds also occur in babies.

 Bleeding gums are also a part of the symptoms for dengue fever in babies. These are the nine serious symptoms of dengue in babies that you need to look out for.

What to do if the baby suffers from dengue?

If the baby has a high fever and a rash or pain in his joints then you should contact your doctor immediately. There is no cure particularly for dengue. The doctor might prescribe paracetamol for the fever and relief from the joint pains. You can also give the baby acetaminophen to relieve the fever and pain. You should not give the baby ibuprofen or aspirin as the dengue fever reduces platelet count in the blood and it might cause some bleeding.

You should make your baby take lots of rest and sleep. He should be given lots of fluids and water and nutritious food only. If your baby is still having breast milk then he should be breastfed more as breast milk replaces important fluids and prevents dehydration in the baby.

The babies who are under six months should drink only breast milk or formula. They can have a few sips of water as well. The doctor might prescribe a rehydration liquid for babies less than three months. You can try to bring the temperature down by applying wet cloth on his forehead. If the baby starts vomiting in the first twenty four hours after the fever has gone down then you should immediately go to the doctor or the emergency room of the hospital.

Some babies who get affected by DHF might be hospitalized and given fluid replacement therapy. If this disease is caught early then it van be diagnosed properly.

Prevention of dengue in babies

There are no vaccines to prevent dengue. There are certain steps that can be taken to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Some of them are as follows:

 The baby carrier or stroller should be kept covered with mosquito nets both indoors and outdoors.

 For the babies who are two months or older, you can use insect repellent. You can follow the directions given on the packet. It should not be used on babies less than two months old.  You should always dress your baby in loose cotton clothes that cover their arms and legs.

 You should try to stay in places with air conditioners or those that have screens on their windows and doors.

When should a doctor be concerned?

The doctor should be concerned on the occurrence of certain signs. Some of these signs are as follows:-

The color of the baby’s stool changes to black.

 If the baby feels drowsy and tired then a doctor should be summoned.

 Sometimes the baby becomes pale, which is a sign to consult the doctor.

 When there is any difficulty in breathing, then the baby should be immediately taken to the emergency room or the doctor.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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