{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Sand Fly Bites Are Triggering Kala-azar Cases Among Children Across Gujarat, Doctor Explains Warning Signs",
  "summary": "Sand fly bites are causing kala-azar-like infections among children in several districts of Gujarat, and Dr Neha Garg explains the symptoms and how to prevent the spread.",
  "content": "Monsoon season brings a fresh wave of insect borne illnesses every year, and this time young children are bearing the brunt of it. A tiny insect called the sand fly, smaller even than a mosquito, is behind a string of infections among children across several districts of Gujarat, and doctors are warning that if the bite goes unnoticed, the resulting infection can turn serious.\n\nSand flies are typically found in damp spots, bushes, animal enclosures, cracks in soil and unclean areas. The insect stays hidden through the day and becomes far more active in the evening and at night, which is why most bite cases tend to surface after dark.\n\nCases of children affected by sand fly bites have recently been reported from Gujarat's Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Kheda, Aravalli and Panchmahal districts. What stands out is that the infection is spreading faster among children under 15 years of age, a trend that has left parents worried.\n\nWhat exactly is a sand fly\nAccording to Dr Neha Garg, consultant neonatologist at Yatharth Hospital, Agra, a sand fly bite is not limited to itching or irritation, it can also trigger a serious illness called leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar. The disease is caused by a parasite named Leishmania that enters the body through the bite of an infected sand fly. Interestingly, the insect first feeds on the blood of an infected person or animal, and only when it later bites another person does the infection actually get transmitted. Dr Neha Garg clarifies that the disease does not spread through ordinary contact, handshakes, sitting together or sharing food, meaning a bite is the only route through which it moves from one person to another.\n\nFrom early itching to fever and weakness, here are the symptoms\nAfter a sand fly bite, the skin initially develops red rashes along with itching, a burning sensation or mild swelling. In most cases it stops there, but if the infection spreads deeper, the picture changes considerably. Patients can then run a fever for several days at a stretch, feel extreme weakness, lose weight rapidly and experience a drop in appetite. Anemia can also set in, along with an enlargement of the spleen and liver. Dr Neha Garg notes that some patients develop wounds or ulcers on the skin that refuse to heal for a long time, and this is the sign that should be taken most seriously since it can easily be mistaken for a minor wound and ignored.\n\nHow to protect against it, according to the doctor\nDr Neha Garg says the most important step is to keep the home and its surroundings consistently clean. Garbage should not be allowed to pile up and moisture should not be allowed to collect anywhere nearby, since that is the main condition that lets sand flies breed. Wearing full sleeved clothing at night, using insecticide treated mosquito nets and applying insect repellent creams or sprays also go a long way in preventing bites. Dr Neha Garg has clearly stated that anyone experiencing prolonged fever, skin wounds or any unusual symptom should get examined by a doctor without delay. She adds that timely identification along with proper treatment can keep the disease under control to a large extent, so there should be no carelessness, especially in households with young children.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: The risk of insect borne diseases rises in every part of the country during the monsoon, so keeping homes and their surroundings clean and free of standing moisture matters for every family.\n• In Gujarat: Families in Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Kheda, Aravalli and Panchmahal districts should stay especially alert, particularly if there are children under 15 at home, and seek immediate medical attention if persistent fever or non healing skin wounds appear.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What exactly is a sand fly?\nA sand fly is an insect smaller than a mosquito that is found in damp spots, bushes, animal enclosures and unclean areas, and it becomes far more active in the evening and at night.\n\n2. How does this disease spread?\nAn infected sand fly first feeds on the blood of a sick person or animal, and when it later bites someone else, the Leishmania parasite enters that person's body and causes the infection.\n\n3. Which districts of Gujarat have reported cases?\nCases of children affected by sand fly bites have been reported from Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Kheda, Aravalli and Panchmahal districts.\n\n4. Who is being affected the most?\nAccording to Dr Neha Garg, the infection is spreading faster among children under 15 years of age.\n\n5. What are the early symptoms?\nEarly on, the skin develops red rashes along with itching, a burning sensation or mild swelling.\n\n6. What symptoms appear in serious cases?\nSerious cases can bring prolonged fever, extreme weakness, weight loss, reduced appetite, anemia and an enlarged spleen and liver, along with skin wounds that refuse to heal.\n\n7. Does the disease spread through handshakes or sitting together?\nNo, Dr Neha Garg says it does not spread through ordinary contact, handshakes, sitting together or sharing food.\n\n8. What precautions should be taken?\nKeep the home and surroundings clean, avoid letting moisture collect, wear full sleeved clothing at night, and use insecticide treated mosquito nets along with insect repellent creams or sprays.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/health/gujarat-men-bachchon-ko-apani-chapeta-men-le-rahi-reta-makkhi-doktara-ne-batae-kalajara-ke-lakshana-aura-bachava-ke-tarike-11312",
  "category": "Health",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-28",
  "tags": [
    "Sand Fly",
    "Kala-azar",
    "Leishmaniasis",
    "Gujarat",
    "Children Disease",
    "Monsoon Diseases",
    "Dr Neha Garg",
    "Infection Symptoms"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}