Could your child's fever be dengue?
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) has revealed that it has recorded over 84,000 dengue cases since the start of 2010. DOH Secretary Enrique Ona explains that these startling statistics are 118-percent higher, versus the same period last year. He adds that while the incidence of the virus has decreased in some provinces; the numbers have also been escalating in other parts of the country.
According to DOH, the virus ranges from a slight to a high grade fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, sore muscles and joints, rashes, and diarrhea. The DOH chief said that the key to patients’ survival is early clinical diagnosis, and careful management by experienced medical practitioners.
At present, there are no specific antiviral medicines for this mosquito-borne disease, but the DOH stresses the importance of managing fever that may be caused by dengue. In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the treatment of dengue, the agency does not prescribe acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, since these medicines can lead to fatal complications. WHO recommends paracetamol as the only option for fever that may be caused by dengue.
The optimum dose of paracetamol is 15 mg/kg so that fever can be reduced in as fast as 15 minutes. To ensure that mothers give the correct dosage of paracetamol, doctors advise giving paracetamol based on the child’s weight. Only paracetamol (Calpol) has these dosage instructions printed on its packaging for easy reference of mothers.
If you suspect your child may have fever that is caused by dengue, contact your pediatrician immediately.
