Dengue fever (DHF) is a disease that cannot be underestimated in Indonesia. According to the Directorate of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases (P2PM), in 2022 there will be 87,501 cases of DHF with 816 cases of death.
What is Dengue Fever?
Quoting the official website of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), DHF is a disease caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted through mosquito bites. Still according to IDAI, almost every year DHF causes epidemics during the rainy season and can be found in all provinces in Indonesia.
What are the Causes of Dengue Fever?
The cause of DHF is the dengue virus. This virus is then transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. This is why, even if Mommy is next to someone who has DHF, you will not get it as long as the mosquito carrying the dengue virus doesn’t bite Mommy.
These two types of mosquitoes generally breed in puddles or water reservoirs, such as gutters, bathtubs and swimming pools. Trash cans or used drink bottles are also a comfortable place for mosquitoes to breed. Usually DHF mosquitoes actively bite in the morning or evening.
How Dangerous is Dengue Fever Mosquito for your Little One?
In some cases, the symptoms of DHF in children are similar to flu symptoms. However, in fatal cases of DHF, sufferers of DHF may experience sudden bleeding that does not stop.
This can occur in any area of the body, both gums, nose, mouth to feces. These symptoms are characteristic of dengue fever that is already severe.
In addition, your little one’s blood pressure can drop dramatically, the pulse weakens, and leaks in the blood vessels. Furthermore, this can cause malfunction of the internal organs, even death.
What Are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is divided into 3 types, namely dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome.
Dengue fever is a type of DHF with flu-like symptoms. In the form of high fever between 3 to 14 days, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, until a red rash appears on the surface of the skin.
Meanwhile, dengue hemorrhagic fever can have a more severe impact on children, due to leakage or seepage of blood vessels. Symptoms can include swelling, tightness, a large stomach, and bleeding.
The most severe DHF in children is dengue shock syndrome, which can cause damage to the function of internal organs, up to a decrease in the number of platelets.
Overall, the symptoms of DHF are characterized by 3 phases of dengue fever.
1. First Phase
Initial symptoms include high fever of up to 40˚C accompanied by pain and red spots. Generally lasts 2 to 7 days.
2. Second Phase
This phase is a critical period, with more dangerous symptoms, such as bleeding and vomiting. In this phase, the body temperature usually drops, so many suspect that they have recovered.
3. Third Phase
The recovery phase which lasts for 2 to 3 days after the critical phase. In this phase the body will recover and restore organ function to its original state.
How to Overcome Dengue Fever?
The most effective way to deal with DHF in children is to strengthen the immune system of your little one, so that it can fight infection with the DHF virus. Here are tips that Moms can use to deal with DHF in your little one:
- Give the child lots of fluids. Fluids are needed to relieve fever and pain in your little one’s body, and prevent him from becoming dehydrated.
- Give children pain relievers, such as paracetamol to deal with complaints of pain and fever. Avoid giving aspirin, salicylates, or ibuprofen which can increase the risk of internal bleeding.
- Get enough rest, in order to speed up the body’s recovery from dengue virus infection.
How to Prevent Dengue Fever from Home
Because DHF is transmitted through mosquito bites, what Mommy needs to do at home is to prevent DHF mosquitoes from breeding. Some simple things that Moms can do, namely:
- Diligently drain the bathroom tub, to get rid of mosquito larvae.
- Gather used trash together, so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Routinely do fogging and avoid piling up dirty clothes.
Apply mosquito repellent all over the child’s body, especially on the parts that are not covered by clothes, in the morning, evening and before going to bed. Choose an anti-mosquito that is made from safe ingredients and doesn’t irritate your little one’s skin, such as Buds Organics Mozzie Clear Spray & Lotion. The difference lies in their use. For your little one who is still not actively moving, Moms can give Mozzie Clear Lotion. Meanwhile, for your little one who is actively walking and running, Mommy can use Mozzie Clear Spray.
This mosquito repellent is made from organic ingredients specially formulated to treat and protect children’s skin from mosquito and insect bites when your little one is actively playing outside the home. Besides being effective in protecting your little one from insects, this lotion is also free of artificial fragrances and other harmful chemicals, and has received certification from Ecocert so it is guaranteed safe for your little one to use.
Call the doctor immediately if your little one shows symptoms of severe and dangerous dengue fever. Prevent DHF by routinely keeping the house clean, hoarding plastic waste, and draining the bathroom, and giving mosquito repellent lotion that is safe for the skin.