| Dengue fever | Typhoid fever | |
|---|---|---|
| How it spreads | Daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes that breed in standing water around the home. | Food or water contaminated by the bacteria, often from poor food hygiene. |
| Typical symptoms in kids | A sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes a rash. | A fever that builds up gradually, stomach pain, and loss of appetite. |
| Warning signs that need a doctor fast | Bleeding gums, repeated vomiting, severe stomach pain, or unusual drowsiness. | A fever that won't break after several days, severe stomach pain, or confusion. |
| How doctors treat it | Supportive care such as fluids and paracetamol for fever, since there is no specific antiviral drug, avoid aspirin and ibuprofen unless your doctor advises, with hospital monitoring if warning signs appear. | A course of antibiotics, usually taken at home unless the case turns severe. |
| Prevention a family can control | Covered water containers, repellent on skin and clothing, and mosquito screens on windows and doors. | Vaccination before arrival, plus bottled or boiled water and thoroughly cooked food. |
| Cost if it turns serious | Usually home-based supportive care if warning signs stay absent; hospital monitoring or admission becomes the priority if warning signs appear. | Often manageable at home on prescribed antibiotics if caught early; severe or unclear cases may need more tests and sometimes hospital care. |
Choose Dengue fever if…
Choose Dengue fever as your top concern if your family spends time outdoors during the day in rainy season, since standing water near the home raises mosquito risk.
Choose Typhoid fever if…
Choose Typhoid fever as your top concern if your family eats often from food stalls or drinks water you haven't boiled or bottled yourself, since that's the main route it spreads.
Still weighing it up for your family?
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