They had just flown in
explained a father at 1 a.m. While in Hawaii,
their two year-old had suffered mosquito bites followed after a few days by
fever, restlessness, and refusal to eat. Checking the internet (my heart
sank….) he learned about dengue fever.
I explained that dengue
is a viral infection that produces the usual symptoms of a viral infection (fever, body aches, general misery) and
has no cure. He agreed but pointed out that deadly complications, although
uncommon, did occur, and he wanted the child examined.
Before leaving, I
consulted a medical book to refresh my knowledge of dengue fever. I’ve never
seen a case. The child did not seem terribly ill. Certainly there was no sign
of shock or internal bleeding, the typical complication.
I reassured the parents.
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