Dengue scare in Bengaluru: Keep watch on your children’s hydration level, docs say

Bengaluru: The death of two schoolchildren due to dengue over the past fortnight, amid claims by civic and health authorities that the virus is on the decline, has turned the spotlight on the vector-borne disease, especially among minors.

A class 2 student of a private school in central Bengaluru died less than four days after testing positive. In another case, a class 1 student from east Bengaluru died within 48 hours of developing a fever, and was diagnosed with dengue only a few hours before she breathed her last.

Doctors have been reiterating basic protocols: Bringing in kids for medical examination within three days of fever, hydrating them more than average because of liquid leaks from capillaries, and giving them food they have an appetite for, largely restricted to semi-solids.

Dehydration, according to doctors, has multiple indicators — dryness of the tongue, frequency of urination, and the colour of urine. "On average, a child urinates six to seven times a day; that number reducing to half is a sign of dehydration. Another sign of alarm is when the child doesn't urinate for 8-12 hours," said a doctor.

Experts recommend watching out for the signs and diagnosing early.