Dengue fever in children: causes, symptoms and how to treat it

Dengue hemorrhagic fever or commonly known as DHF is a contagious disease that is rife in transition seasons. This disease can affect anyone indiscriminately, but it most often affects young children. What should be known about dengue fever in children?

Causes of dengue fever (DHF) in children

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a disease caused by mosquito bites Aedes aegepti who carry the dengue virus . There are 4 types of dengue viruses, namely DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4 viruses.

Living in a tropical climate like Indonesia increases the risk of dengue fever transmission to children.

First, because mosquitoes breed more easily and quickly in tropical areas with humid climates. Second, the incubation period of the virus in mosquitoes will be faster in warm ambient temperatures. This means that mosquitoes have more opportunity to infect many people at once in a short time.

A mosquito that carries the dengue virus can continue to infect other people as long as it is alive. It is possible that all family members can become infected with the same dengue virus within 2 to 3 days.

Moreover, tropical countries have a rainy season with a long period of time. During the rainy season and beyond, there will be lots of standing water which can be an ideal breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

What are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever in children?

When a mosquito carrying the dengue virus bites your child, it is likely that he will start experiencing dengue symptoms within 4-7 days after that. The appearance of these symptoms is categorized into three phases of disease progression called the "Saddle Cycle": the high fever phase, the critical phase (fever decreases), and the healing phase (the fever rises again).

Each phase of DHF has its own symptoms and characteristics. Initially, dengue fever may not show any signs or symptoms in the child.

Symptoms of dengue fever in children can appear at any time after being bitten by a mosquito, but are usually noticed within 4 days to 2 weeks thereafter. After the first symptoms appear, complaints will last for two to seven days.

Common signs and symptoms of dengue fever in infants and toddlers:

• Cold
• A small red rash appears on several parts of the body
• Cough lightly
• Body temperature can rise suddenly to high fever very quickly

Common signs and symptoms of dengue fever in school-age children and pubescent adolescents:

• Weak, tired, lethargic
• Pain behind the eyes and in various joints of the body
• High fever, can be more than 40 ºCelsius
• Back pain
• Headache
• Body bruises easily
• Red rash spots appear

However, it must also be remembered that every child may experience different symptoms. In some cases of serious dengue fever, children may experience nosebleeds or bleeding gums. This symptom is caused by internal bleeding due to the child's platelet levels dropping dramatically.

Symptoms dengue shock syndrome (DSS) in children

Common cases of DHF can turn into precarious when a child experiences it dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Shock fever is a life threatening condition. Shock occurs because the body experiences sudden excessive bleeding due to a leak in a blood vessel.

Here are the symptoms in children:

• Sudden and continuous bleeding from any part of the body
• Blood pressure has dropped dramatically
• Organ malfunction
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent itching on the soles of the feet
• Decreased or completely lost appetite.

This type of dengue fever is often fatal in children. The key is not to immediately stop DHF treatment when the child's fever drops and his body temperature is normal. This actually indicates that the child is in a critical phase.

If left untreated, the child's blood platelets will decrease so that they are at risk of causing unconscious internal bleeding.

Diagnosis of dengue fever in children

If the parents suspect the symptoms of dengue fever in their child, take it to the doctor immediately. Especially if the child has recently traveled to a place prone to DHF and complains of not feeling well.

Before formalizing the diagnosis of dengue fever in children, the doctor will first carry out a physical examination and medical history regarding the symptoms that are felt.

The doctor may also take a child's blood sample to confirm the presence of the dengue virus. Blood tests are also done to check for the presence of antibodies produced by the child's immune system in response to infection.

Later the doctor can decide whether your child needs to be hospitalized or can be outpatient.

In general, it is likely that the child is not sick with dengue if the fever persists for more than a week after being bitten by a mosquito.

Treatment and treatment of dengue fever in children

Until now there is no specific drug available to treat dengue fever. Doctors usually will provide a variety of more than one treatment method to relieve symptoms while preventing the child's condition from getting worse.

Generally, the treatment of dengue fever in children includes:

1. Drink lots of fluids

Children who are sick with dengue need to drink lots of water to reduce fever, relieve muscle pain, as well as prevent the risk of dehydration and shock. So, make sure your child gets fluid intake every few minutes. Don't wait until your child is thirsty.

Liquids can be in the form of mineral water, milk, fresh fruit juice (not packaged), food with warm soup. Also give the child isotonic fluids. Isotonic drinks function better to restore body fluids than plain water.

Isotonic fluids also contain electrolytes which can prevent leakage of blood plasma in children with DHF.

2. Take pain relievers

Complaints of fever, body aches, and headaches experienced by children can also be treated by taking pain relievers such as paracetamol.

However, do not give your child painkillers that contain aspirin, salicylates, or ibuprofen. Both drugs can increase your child's risk of internal bleeding.

3. Fluid infusion

Infusion is generally the main method of treating dengue fever in hospitals. Infusion serves to restore lost body fluids, drain the intake of vitamins and drugs, and normalize pressure and blood flow to prevent the risk of dehydration and shock.

After the infusion, the child's condition generally begins to improve and their platelet levels slowly return to normal. It is likely that the child will no longer need any further special care if so.

If the child's condition worsens and infusion therapy is not enough, the doctor may recommend a platelet transfusion. This method aims to increase the number of platelets during dengue fever. However, transfusions are only intended for children who experience symptoms of heavy bleeding such as nosebleeds that do not stop or bloody stools.

4. Get enough rest

While undergoing dengue fever treatment, children who are sick will be required to take complete rest, aka bed rest . Rest can speed up the healing period of the disease. Rest can also help restore body tissue damaged by dengue fever infection.

So, parents must ensure that their children get adequate rest. If hospitalized, the doctor can give a child with DHF with certain drugs so that they can quickly become drowsy so they can get complete rest.

How to prevent dengue fever in children

Parents can prevent the transmission of dengue fever to children at home by maintaining a clean environment.

Make sure that the bathtub and other water storage containers at home are diligently drained at least once a week to kill mosquito larvae. Piling up used trash such as unused cans and buckets is also highly recommended to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

It is also important to routinely fog, get rid of piles of dirty clothes at home, apply insect repellent all over the body before going to bed at night, and get the dengue fever vaccine.

These methods not only help prevent dengue fever in children themselves, but also prevent the spread of the disease to the surrounding environment.

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