What should you know about dengue and malaria?

Dengue is caused by a virus and may bring sudden fever, headache, joint pain, and muscle aches. Malaria is caused by parasites and can cause fever, chills, sweating, headache, and marked weakness. The pattern is not reliable enough to identify the illness at home, and a person can have another infection with similar symptoms.

Tell a clinician about every country visited, dates of travel, mosquito bites, prevention medicines, and when symptoms began. A Blood Test or other testing may be needed, sometimes with repeat assessment, because early results can be inconclusive.

Arrange prompt medical review for fever during or after travel to a malaria-risk area. Drink suitable fluids and rest while awaiting advice, but do not use leftover antibiotics or malaria treatment. Malaria requires specific prescription treatment; dengue care is mainly supportive and some pain medicines may increase bleeding risk. Before future travel, a Travel Health Consultation can review vaccines, mosquito protection, and Malaria Prophylaxis.

Seek emergency care for confusion, fainting, seizures, severe weakness, breathing difficulty, persistent vomiting, bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or inability to drink. Fever with chills after travel should not be watched at home for several days, because malaria can worsen quickly.

Ask which tests are needed for dengue and malaria, whether testing should be repeated, which medicines are safe before the diagnosis is clear, and how to prevent mosquito bites during illness.