Ano ang dengue fever? What to know

Treatment is mainly supportive: maintaining fluids, monitoring symptoms, and using suitable medicine for fever or pain. A clinician should assess suspected dengue because some people worsen as the fever begins to settle.

Dengue spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito rather than through ordinary contact between people. The illness may produce sudden fever with headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle or joint aches, chills, nausea, or a rash. Easy bruising or bleeding can signal a more serious phase.

Symptoms alone cannot confirm dengue because several infections can look similar. A clinician considers recent travel or local mosquito exposure, examines the patient, and may arrange blood testing according to the stage of illness.

Contact a healthcare professional, rest, and take frequent fluids. If nausea makes drinking difficult, small regular sips may be easier. Track urine output, bleeding, vomiting, alertness, and whether abdominal pain is developing.

Paracetamol may be appropriate for fever when used as directed. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar anti-inflammatory medicines unless a clinician specifically advises them, because they may increase bleeding risk. Reduce mosquito bites during the illness by using repellent, screens, and covering clothing.

Go to urgent care for severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, bleeding from the nose or gums, unusual bruising, marked drowsiness or restlessness, breathing difficulty, cold clammy skin, fainting, or very little urine.

Do not use a falling temperature as the only sign of recovery. Warning signs may appear as fever eases, so continue close observation and follow the clinician's review plan.

Ask whether the symptoms and exposure history fit dengue, whether testing is useful now, how much fluid to aim for, which pain medicines are suitable, and which changes should trigger immediate reassessment. Also ask when normal activity can resume and how to protect household members from mosquito exposure.