What should you know about Aedes mosquitoes and dengue?

Aedes mosquitoes commonly live near people, bite mainly in daylight and breed in small water collections. You cannot determine from the bite mark whether a mosquito carried dengue.

A mosquito can acquire dengue virus when it feeds on a person who has the virus, then transmit it during a later bite. Dengue can present with fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle aches, joint pain, nausea or rash, but symptoms alone cannot reliably separate it from every other infection.

Removing breeding sites interrupts the mosquito side of this cycle. Check indoor and outdoor containers, refresh pet water safely, clear blocked drains and keep stored water covered.

A bite without illness generally calls for local skin care and observation rather than dengue testing. If fever or broader symptoms develop after relevant exposure, arrange a GP consultation and provide your travel locations, symptom timeline and medicine list.

Maintain fluid intake and use mosquito repellent as directed so other mosquitoes are less likely to bite you. Until a clinician has assessed possible dengue, avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen because of bleeding concerns.

Seek emergency assessment for severe abdominal pain, vomiting that prevents drinking, visible bleeding, black stool, new unexplained bruises, breathing trouble, confusion, collapse, extreme weakness, cold clammy skin or very little urine. Pay close attention as fever improves because serious warning signs can emerge during that transition.

Consider asking whether dengue testing is indicated at this stage, which fluids and pain relief are appropriate, how you should monitor recovery, and whether your pregnancy, age, existing illness or regular medicines alter the care plan.