#Dengue #child #WarningSigns
This video tells you all about dengue infection in children.
0:00 - Introduction
0:07 - What is dengue?
It is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus and transmitted to human beings by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is very common in India.
0:30 - How does Dengue spread?
The Aedes mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in his blood. After ~8-12 days in the mosquito's body, the virus is transmitted to every person the mosquito bites. Dengue does not directly spread from one person to another person.
0:56 - What are the symptoms of Dengue?
Only 1 in 4 people who have dengue infection will actually develop symptoms. Symptoms usually begin 4 to 6 days after infection and can last up to 10 days. Symptoms of dengue infection could range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of mild dengue are non-specific, and include: sudden high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, rash, and tiredness or fatigue. About 1 in 20 people with dengue can develop severe dengue, a medical emergency.
1:46 - What are the warning signs of severe dengue?
Warning signs of severe dengue usually appear in the first 24-48 hours after the fever eases. Warning signs to be watched for are symptoms like severe tummy pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding manifestations (bleeding gums, excessive menstrual blood loss, blood in stools, or blood in vomitus), feeling excessively tired, restless or irritable, breathing difficulty, cold clammy skin, reduced frequency of urination - 1-2 times per day, giddiness etc. Severe dengue warrants immediate medical attention. So if a child has warning signs of dengue, he/ she should be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible.
2:22 - How is dengue diagnosed?
The doctor takes a detailed history, examines the patient, and usually orders some blood tests which will help make a diagnosis of dengue. The child's platelet counts can drop during the infection and will be monitored closely by the doctor as low platelet counts can cause bleeding.
2:39 - How is dengue treated?
Depending on the clinical condition, the child may be sent home, hospitalized, or receive ICU treatment for severe dengue.
Encourage plenty of oral fluids to keep your child well hydrated. Children can be given Paracetamol for fever relief. Please note that you MUST avoid giving anti-inflammatory agents like mefenamic acid, ibuprofen or aspirin, which will bring the fever down very well but can worsen bleeding.
There is no evidence for use of antibiotics, papaya leaf extract and herbal remedies in dengue.
3:47 - Important points to note
