Before we get into the treatment guidelines, it is important to know what are the symptoms of dengue. Once the symptoms are caught proper treatment can be prescribed by the doctor. But the important thing is to know the answer to the question, "What are the symptoms of dengue?" first.
The symptoms of dengue include sudden fevers going up to 105F, vomiting, nausea, joint and muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, dehydration, exhaustion, sudden headaches and rashes on the skin. Mild bleeding in of the gums and in the nose is also a distinguishing symptom of dengue. If you notice your child showing any of these symptoms its best to consult your child's physician for a confirmed diagnosis.
Treatment usually begins with a confirmation of the infection with the appropriate blood test prescribed by the doctor. Once the infection is confirmed the doctor prescribes appropriate medication for symptomatic treatment. In addition to medication for dealing with symptoms, other measures can be taken to help recover faster from the infection.
1. Adequate Rest: The body heals and repairs itself best when sleeping, so make it a point that patients get adequate sleep when infected. Additionally, the body needs rest since the infection weakens the body through dehydration. Any activity that can cause strain to the body should be avoided at all costs so the body can use that energy to fight a recover from the infection.
2. Light Nutritious Meals: Heavy meals are difficult for the body to digest when sick. It uses up too much energy to digest heavy meals especially ones loaded with fats and protein. Light nutritious meals are a must to help recover faster from the infection.
3. Stay Hydrated: Dengue causes dehydration due to internal bleeding. Patients should be kept well hydrated by ensuring that that take in enough fluids throughout the day. Fluids in form of water, fresh fruit juices, soups etc. help keep patients well hydrated and nourished.
4. Doctor Prescribed Medication: Make it a point to take the appropriate doctor prescribed medication in the way and dose prescribed by the doctor. Do not self-medicate or experiment with the medication. The doctor may prescribe a hot compress to relieve muscle and joint mains.
The best treatment for dengue is to prevent it in the first place. This can easily be done by taking adequate preventive measures like curbing the breeding of mosquitoes in your vicinity and using adequate mosquito protection on a daily basis. Especially for children given the fact that they are more susceptible to mosquito borne diseases. Preventive measures include getting rid of any stagnant water and not letting water accumulate for mosquitoes to breed in it, using appropriate insecticide on a regular basis. Additionally, using mosquito protection like mosquito repellent bands, patches, vaporizers creams, lotions, coils, mats, candles, etc. can help reduce the chances of dengue infection by a rather sizeable margin.
Staying informed and staying aware is the way to go to keep both the adults and kids in the house safe from these traumatising mosquito borne diseases.
