Bengaluru: City hospitals are witnessing a worrying rise in cases of dengue-like illnesses (DLI) among children, leaving both doctors and parents searching for answers. While many children test negative for dengue, they exhibit nearly identical symptoms — high fever, severe body aches, and fatigue.
Dr Vishal V Jali, consultant paediatrician, Motherhood Hospitals, said DLI mimics many symptoms of dengue, but is caused by other viral infections.
“It results in high-grade fever, often lasting 3-4 days, accompanied by a maculopa pular rash, which is common in dengue, but can also appear in viral infections like chikungunya or enterovirus,” he explained.
“We see 10-20 new cases of DLI weekly, with about 40 per cent requiring hospitalisation due to severe dehydration, high fever, vomiting, and the inability to maintain fluid intake. In some cases, DLI can also mimic severe dengue symptoms such as rapid breathing, severe abdominal pain, and altered mental status, which necessitates close monitoring,” Dr Jali said.
The challenge, he emphasised, is the similarity in symptoms, which makes diagnosis tricky, delaying treatment and increasing chan ces of complications. In severe cases, children may even have mild bleeding, like petechiae or gum bleeding.
Dr Parimala V Thirumalesh, senior consultant – neonatology & paediatrics, Aster CMI Hospital, attributed the rise in DLI to several factors: “Dengue-like illnesses are increasing due to viral infections transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes species. Climate change, urbanisation, and poor water management are contributing to the rise in mosquitoes, especially during rainy season, leading to more DLI cases.”
Joint pain may last longer in children
Doctors say that children can be infected with multiple pathogens — viral, bacterial or parasitic simultaneously, which can complicate symptoms and diagnosis. Lingering symptoms is another trait of DLI.
Dr Hiremath Sagar, consultant paediatrician at Narayana Health City, “Joint pain may also last longer in children, especially when DLI resembles chikungunya. Even though acute symptoms like fever subside within a few days, lingering fatigue and body aches take time to resolve.”
Improper self-medication complicates things further, say doctors. “Often, patients panic and take painkillers without consulting a doctor, which can exacerbate DLI. Even with mild symptoms, consult a doctor for early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications. Staying hydrated is also crucial for a smooth recovery,” said Dr Shaikh Mohammed Aslam, consultant in internal medicine at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital.
