Symptoms of Dengue in Infants

What is dengue fever in infants?

Dengue fever in infants is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. In infants, the disease can be more severe than in older children or adults, and it often presents with atypical or subtle symptoms.

Babies living near stagnant water bodies are more prone to dengue fever than others as these surroundings are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Babies under 12 months of age affected with dengue fever may have a fever for 10 days or more.

Symptoms of dengue in infants

The dengue fever symptoms in infants includes:

• Sudden high or low body temperature that goes up to 1040F or sometimes comes down to less than 96.80F

• Pain or discomfort at the back of the eyes

• Headache, body pain, or severe tiredness

• Nausea accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea

• Severe pain in the joints and muscles

• Skin rashes, which usually occur a day or two after the onset of fever; rashes are usually flat or slightly raised

• Occasional nosebleeds

• Bleeding in the gums

• Sudden loss of appetite

• Crankiness and irritability

• Trouble while breathing due to excessive coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory difficulties

Stages of symptoms

These infant dengue symptoms differ depending on the stage of dengue your baby is diagnosed with. Dengue in babies can be one of the following three types:

• Febrile Stage –

First stage, where the fever stays for 2 to 7 days; symptoms include irritability, muscle pain, nausea, and skin rashes

• Critical Stage –

Hospitalisation may be needed, as symptoms include vomiting blood, severe bleeding in the nose and gums, blood in the stools, breathlessness and crankiness

• Recovery Stage –

Symptoms start to disappear gradually; the baby starts to recover, but continuous monitoring is important until the baby has recovered completely

Once you notice the dengue fever symptoms in infants, you should seek medical help immediately. Treatment for dengue in infants is generally supportive, focusing on maintaining hydration, managing fever, and monitoring for signs of complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue, so prevention (through mosquito control and avoiding mosquito bites) is key.