Symptoms of dengue? Seek medical attn immediately: Doctors

Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: With many children testing positive for Dengue fever in the city, doctors caution patients saying people need to be aware of the kind of fever one has and the symptoms that show up.

''Any fever with no respiratory symptoms in the current season can be Dengue fever," they warn.

Dengue patients usually have persisting high fever and early platelet drop which could turn severe. The mosquito-borne viral disease however has varied symptoms that has become a challenge for doctors treating it during the ongoing outbreak.

They feel prevention is the key to controlling the spread of Dengue fever by following basic preventive measures like keeping the surroundings clean and hygienic so one can avoid contracting the virus.

Dr Gunda Srinivas, Consultant, Paediatrics Emergency and Paediatrics, Aster RV, Bengaluru says, “If one family member has been diagnosed with Dengue, any fever in other family members within the next 1 to 2 weeks might be Dengue”.

Doctors suggest the key to safe management of Dengue fever is cautious monitoring of the symptoms, fever management, hydration with adequate fluids, watching out for any warning signs and periodic follow ups with the paediatrician.

There is no specific treatment for Dengue Fever. It's usually symptomatic like fever, vomiting and is usually self-limiting. Meanwhile, experts look out for 'red flags' in some kids and say it needs to be identified and corrective measures taken as the vital body organs are not affected.

A few symptoms which shall indicate that a child with Dengue is entering critical phase and needs monitoring will include vomiting, stomach pain, facial puffiness/swelling, fatigue and dizziness, mucosal bleed like nose bleed, red urine and black stools.

In children, if the fever goes away but the child is not improving and feeling more tired while also vomiting and is affected by stomach pain or decreased urination than usual or has red spots on the body, it is potentially Dengue fever getting critical.

In such situations, the children need to be rushed immediately to the doctor. Doctors say, even if it's Dengue fever, 70 to 80 percent of them recover within 3 to 4 days. Some kids instead of recovering straight away might enter the critical phase of Dengue.

Treating the critical phase in Dengue fever takes 4 to 6 days after it starts, the doctors informed.