What you need to know as parents?
Brief introduction of Dengue illness: Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a simple course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the 'dengue triad') of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. The World Health Organisation estimates that 2.5 billion people (two fifths the world's population), risk contracting dengue, and that there may be as many as 50 million cases of dengue fever every year. It is caused by one of four serotypes of Dengue virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed.
Is Dengue illness always fatal and life threatening?--No! Most of the time, the child suffers from high fever, headache, body ache, rash for about three to five days and then starts improving without going into complications. In less than 5 percent of cases there can be severe disease which can lead to low platelets in blood leading to risk of bleeding, fall in blood pressure, fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen and rarely even fatal liver damage.
How are we at risk of contracting Dengue illnesses?--The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person by touching or coughing. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway. Dengue viruses are mainly transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes; and invasive, domestic species with tropical and sub-tropical worldwide distribution. The mosquitoes that transmit Dengue live among humans and breed in discarded tyres, flower pots, old oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings. Unlike the mosquitoes that cause malaria, Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day. The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person by touching or coughing. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person-pathway.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?--The time between the bite of a mosquito carrying dengue virus and the start of symptoms averages 4 to 6 days, with a range of 3 to 14 days.
When should I suspect Dengue illness in my family members?--During the mosquito breeding season (from July to November), children with symptoms of high fever with head ache and body ache should be shown to a child specialist for any possibility of Dengue illness. The symptoms for initial 2 or 3 days are same as in a regular Dengue fever with high fever, head aches, body aches, etc. However from third or fourth day of illness when the fever begins to settle down and rash starts appearing, platelets in blood start falling leading to risk of bleeding. Moreover, leaking of body fluids outside blood vessels starts leading to fall in blood pressure, fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen and rarely even fatal lever damage.
What is the diagnostic test for Dengue illness?--There is serological blood test for dengue fever which, if done after fifth day of onset of fever is reasonably accurate in diagnosing Dengue illness.
What is the treatment for dengue fever?--Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Mild cases (more than 90 percent are mild illnesses) need only rest, plenty of liquids, fever control and general observation at home. Those children who have high fever with poor oral intake and weakness, may require intra-venous fluids and more close observation.
When does a child need referral to a higher medical center?-- Every child with Dengue illness need not be admitted in highly equipped health care facility. However, if a child develops more severe illness (less than 10 percent cases), in the form of rapid fall in pletelets in blood, bleeding gums, black stools, swelling over face, breathing difficulty, distension of abdomen or cold hands and feet with falling blood pressures, such children need specialised care in a hospital where facilities for more closed monitoring and treatment are available.
How will I know whether the hospital providing care is well equipped to manage children with severe dengue illness?--Children with severe dengue illness are at higher rick of developing complications like kidney or liver failure, fall in blood pressure and contracting new infections. Those hospitals where facilities for providing mechanical ventilation, managing children's kidney or liver related problems and sound infection control practices are available, the results will be far better. Even in severe dengue illness, if managed in a well-equipped hospital, with experienced team of doctors, results are very good and death rate is less than 5 percent.
How to avoid dengue illness?--There are not yet any vaccines to prevent infection with dengue virus and the most effective protective measures are those that avoid mosquito bites (wearing mosquito repellent creams and lotions, spraying pesticides, and avoiding water logging). When infected, early recognition and prompt supportive treatment in a well equipped medical facility can substantially lower the risk of developing severe disease.
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C.S. Chakravarthy
H. No. 12-13-302, St. No. 9,
Lane. No. 1, Flat. No. 203,
Satya Classic Apartments,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad- 500 017
Telangana State, India.
E-mail: chakkuresearchscholar13@gmail.com
Cell: 09985732397.
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What is the diagnostic test for Dengue illness?--There is serological blood test for dengue fever which, if done after fifth day of onset of fever is reasonably accurate in diagnosing Dengue illness.
What is the treatment for dengue fever?--Because dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Mild cases (more than 90 percent are mild illnesses) need only rest, plenty of liquids, fever control and general observation at home. Those children who have high fever with poor oral intake and weakness, may require intra-venous fluids and more close observation.
When does a child need referral to a higher medical center?-- Every child with Dengue illness need not be admitted in highly equipped health care facility. However, if a child develops more severe illness (less than 10 percent cases), in the form of rapid fall in pletelets in blood, bleeding gums, black stools, swelling over face, breathing difficulty, distension of abdomen or cold hands and feet with falling blood pressures, such children need specialised care in a hospital where facilities for more closed monitoring and treatment are available.
How will I know whether the hospital providing care is well equipped to manage children with severe dengue illness?--Children with severe dengue illness are at higher rick of developing complications like kidney or liver failure, fall in blood pressure and contracting new infections. Those hospitals where facilities for providing mechanical ventilation, managing children's kidney or liver related problems and sound infection control practices are available, the results will be far better. Even in severe dengue illness, if managed in a well-equipped hospital, with experienced team of doctors, results are very good and death rate is less than 5 percent.
How to avoid dengue illness?--There are not yet any vaccines to prevent infection with dengue virus and the most effective protective measures are those that avoid mosquito bites (wearing mosquito repellent creams and lotions, spraying pesticides, and avoiding water logging). When infected, early recognition and prompt supportive treatment in a well equipped medical facility can substantially lower the risk of developing severe disease.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C.S. Chakravarthy
H. No. 12-13-302, St. No. 9,
Lane. No. 1, Flat. No. 203,
Satya Classic Apartments,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad- 500 017
Telangana State, India.
E-mail: chakkuresearchscholar13@gmail.com
Cell: 09985732397.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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