What should you know about cause and effect of dengue?

After an infected mosquito bite, the virus multiplies in the body and the immune response can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, or chills. Some people develop a rash or easy bruising. Symptoms can resemble other infections, so fever alone cannot establish dengue.

The illness can change as the fever settles. In some people, blood vessels become more leaky and blood components can fall, which may lead to abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, unusual sleepiness, or breathing difficulty. A GP Consultation can help assess timing, examination findings, travel or mosquito exposure, and whether testing or monitoring is needed.

Arrange clinical advice for a new fever after possible mosquito exposure or travel to an area where dengue occurs. Rest, drink fluids, and record temperature, symptoms, and any bleeding. Use only fever medicine recommended for you; ask before taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines because they may increase bleeding risk in some situations. Prevent further mosquito bites with clothing, screens, or repellent so mosquitoes do not spread the virus onward.

Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, black stools, marked weakness, confusion, fainting, cold or clammy skin, or difficulty breathing. Urgent assessment is also appropriate when a person cannot drink or passes very little urine. Do not wait for a fever to return before acting on these signs.

Ask whether your symptoms and exposure fit dengue, whether testing is useful now, which medicines are safe, and how much fluid to take. Ask when to repeat assessment, how to recognise warning signs, and how to reduce mosquito exposure at home.