Indias Dengue Season Is Getting Longer, and Kids Are Most at Risk

"Children under the age of 15 account for a large proportion of dengue cases in India, according to paediatricians who track the disease. Their immune response to the virus differs from that of adults, and a child who has already had one dengue infection faces a higher risk of developing severe illness if infected again with a different strain," warned Dr Sharma.

A study of nearly 1,000 children in Delhi found an acute dengue incidence of nearly 38 cases per 1,000 person-years, with children aged 5 to 10 bearing the highest burden at more than 50 cases per 1,000 person-years. Other research estimates that around 17 million Indian children experience their first dengue infection each year, and that half of all children in the country are infected by the age of six.

A longer transmission season means children face more chances of exposure earlier in life, which raises the odds of a second, more dangerous infection.

Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For

"Dengue in children often starts mild and can worsen within days. Early warning signs include high fever, body aches and a rash. Parents should watch for sudden changes, persistent vomiting, stomach pain, bleeding gums, unusual tiredness or fever that goes down but the child gets worse instead of better. These can be signs of severe dengue, which needs immediate medical attention," advised Dr Sharma.

Doctors say weaker immunity, the chance of repeat infections, and existing health conditions raise a child's risk once infected. Early medical intervention, not just treating the fever at home and waiting, changes the course. Year-round risk means seasonal precautions are no longer enough.

"Mosquito control has to be round the year, not just in monsoon campaigns. Clearing standing water around homes, schools, and construction sites, using nets and repellents, and keeping water storage containers covered need to become regular habits rather than monsoon reminders," noted Dr Sharma.

States are also being pushed to track cases earlier in the year and act before numbers climb, instead of responding after an outbreak is already underway. India's first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, is expected to become available this year, giving health authorities another tool against the disease.

Dengue once had a season. The numbers from Delhi, Kerala, and national surveillance data now show a disease active through the year, with children facing the largest share of the risk.