Quick Home Solutions for Expediting Recovery from Dengue and Malaria in Children
Malaria and dengue are two mosquito-borne diseases that pose a significant health risk to children, particularly in regions where these diseases are endemic. This article provides an overview of the common symptoms, treatments, and home remedies for these diseases in children.
Malaria in Children
Malaria in children can present with a variety of symptoms, including high fever, chills, sweating, headache, irritability, vomiting, poor feeding, drowsiness, muscle aches, tiredness, and sometimes jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes). Unlike adults, children may not always show the classic cyclical fever pattern associated with malaria. However, children are at a higher risk for severe complications such as anemia, convulsions, and breathing difficulties [1][3][5].
Treatment for malaria involves urgent medical intervention with antimalarial drugs. Home remedies are not a substitute for professional medical care. Supportive care at home includes ensuring the child rests and stays hydrated, managing fever and pain with appropriate doses of paracetamol or acetaminophen (avoid aspirin due to bleeding risk), and promptly seeking medical help if symptoms appear [1][3][5].
Dengue in Children
Dengue symptoms usually start 4 to 10 days after a mosquito bite and commonly include sudden high fever, severe headache (especially behind the eyes), intense muscle and joint pain, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Dengue causes low platelet count, increasing the risk of bleeding [2][4].
While there is no specific treatment for dengue, supportive care is essential. This includes rest, hydration, and monitoring the child's condition closely. Home remedies, used alongside medical care, may help alleviate symptoms. For example, drinking boiled neem leaf water or neem juice has been suggested to inhibit dengue virus growth [2].
Home Remedies for Dengue
Several home remedies are believed to help alleviate dengue symptoms. These include:
- Drinking boiled neem leaf water or neem juice
- Crushing and straining papaya leaves to make juice for consumption
- Using cinnamon, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, and holy basil leaves, which are believed to boost immunity, reduce fever, and provide relief from symptoms
Prevention
Prevention is crucial in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. To prevent dengue and malaria, children should wear clothes with maximum coverage, use mosquito repellent sprays and roll-ons, spray mosquito repellent essential oils around the house, drain collected water regularly, and avoid fruity and sweet fragrances.
In case a child starts showing symptoms of dengue or malaria, prompt medical attention is essential. These diseases can be detected via blood tests and physical examination. Early intervention can prevent the diseases from becoming complicated and deadly.
In conclusion, while home remedies may help alleviate symptoms in dengue, professional medical evaluation and treatment are essential for both diseases in children. Timely intervention is necessary to prevent these diseases from becoming life-threatening.
References: [1] World Health Organization. (2019). Malaria. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Dengue. https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/about/index.html [3] Malaria Consortium. (2019). Malaria in Children. https://www.malariaconsortium.org/resources/malaria-in-children/ [4] World Health Organization. (2020). Dengue and severe dengue. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue [5] World Health Organization. (2019). Malaria in children. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria-in-children
