What should you know about dengue and liver?

The liver helps process nutrients, medicines, and waste. During dengue, inflammation and changes in blood flow can strain the liver. Many people recover with supportive care, but more serious illness can affect clotting, blood sugar, or the way medicines are processed.

Warning symptoms include pain or tenderness under the right ribs, persistent vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, unusual sleepiness, confusion, or bleeding. These symptoms can have causes other than dengue, so they need clinical evaluation rather than self-diagnosis.

Rest, maintain fluids, and take medicines only after checking that they are suitable for possible dengue and your liver. Avoid alcohol and do not exceed the recommended dose of paracetamol or combine products that contain it. Arrange medical review if fever continues, new abdominal symptoms appear, or you already have liver disease. A GP Consultation can guide examination and monitoring.

Go to urgent care for yellowing with worsening illness, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, confusion, marked drowsiness, bleeding, faintness, or breathing difficulty. Emergency assessment is also appropriate when you cannot drink or are passing very little urine.

Ask whether liver-related blood tests are needed, which pain medicines are safe, whether existing liver disease changes your monitoring, and when repeat assessment should occur.