Health Experts Urge Parents to Stay Alert as Infectious Diseases Spread Among Children

Parents have been urged to remain vigilant as several infectious diseases, including dengue, influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and meningitis, are currently spreading among children across the country.

Dr. Deepal Perera, a specialist physician at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, emphasized that public awareness and preventive measures are essential to control the spread of these illnesses.

Speaking on dengue fever, Dr. Perera warned that it can be life-threatening and may cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, pain behind the eyes, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. He advised parents to seek medical attention immediately, particularly if a child's fever lasts longer than two days.

Regarding influenza, he said common symptoms include fever, cough, chills, body aches, and joint pain. Children showing these symptoms should receive prompt medical care and adequate rest.

To help reduce transmission, Dr. Perera recommended that children wear face masks when attending schools, preschools, and daycare centers, especially if respiratory illnesses are circulating.

He also noted a rise in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, a viral infection caused by the Coxsackievirus. Symptoms include red spots or fluid-filled blisters on the hands, feet, elbows, and inside the mouth. Since the disease spreads through direct contact, parents are advised to keep infected children at home for three to four days and ensure they receive appropriate care.

In addition, cases of meningitis have also been reported among children. Symptoms may include fever, severe headache, vomiting, sensitivity to light, intolerance to noise, and body aches.

Dr. Perera further advised families to practice good hygiene by consuming properly prepared food, drinking boiled or safe water, and covering coughs and sneezes or wearing masks to reduce the risk of infections that spread through the digestive and respiratory systems.