Monsoon Illnesses in Children: How to Keep Your Child Safe This Season

The monsoon brings relief from the heat — but also a surge in illnesses that disproportionately affect children. Here is what to watch for and how to protect your family.

Most Common Monsoon Illnesses in Children

• Dengue Fever: Spread by the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean, stagnant water. Symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, eye pain, body ache, and a skin rash. In children, warning signs of severe dengue include persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding, and lethargy — these need emergency care.
• Gastroenteritis (Diarrhoea + Vomiting): The most common monsoon illness. Caused by contaminated food or water. The main danger in young children is dehydration — treat with ORS (oral rehydration solution), not fasting.
• Typhoid: Spread through contaminated food and water. Persistent fever for more than 5 days, abdominal pain, loose stools. Treated with appropriate antibiotics. Typhoid vaccine is available and recommended.
• Malaria: Fever with chills and rigors, headache, body aches, recurring every 48–72 hours. Needs a blood test for confirmation.
• Viral Fever and Upper Respiratory Infections: Very common in children. Most are self-limiting. Antibiotics are not needed and should not be given without a doctor's advice.
• Conjunctivitis ("Eye Flu"): Redness, watering, and discharge from the eyes. Highly contagious. Hand washing is the most important prevention.

Prevention: What You Can Do

• Remove any stagnant water from your home area (flowerpots, coolers, containers) — this is where dengue mosquitoes breed
• Use mosquito nets and repellents, especially at dusk and dawn
• Drink only boiled, filtered, or packaged water
• Wash hands thoroughly before meals and after using the toilet
• Avoid cut fruits and street food during monsoon
• Ensure your child is vaccinated — typhoid, hepatitis A vaccines are particularly relevant

When to See a Doctor Urgently

• High fever for more than 3 days
• Signs of dehydration — very reduced urine, dry mouth, sunken eyes, excessive drowsiness
• Blood in stools
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bleeding from any site
• Unusual rash with fever

"ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) is one of the most important discoveries in medicine for children. In any case of diarrhoea, start ORS immediately — it saves lives. Do not wait."

Dr. Sushma B manages all paediatric illnesses including monsoon diseases at Sri Anand Child and Neuro Center, Chanda Nagar. Call +91 90633 66983. Evening OPD: 6:30–9:00 PM daily.