What effects can dengue fever have?

The infection can produce intense fever, muscle aches, joint pain, chills, weakness and headache. Vomiting or poor intake may lead to dehydration, with thirst, dizziness or reduced urination. Changes in blood vessels and clotting can cause easy bruising or bleeding. Severe illness may affect circulation and organs, so a person can need hospital assessment even when the initial symptoms looked like a routine fever.

Effects differ between people. Dengue Fever cannot be confirmed from symptoms alone, and a clinician may need to follow symptoms and blood results over time.

Rest and take small, frequent drinks if you can keep them down. Keep track of urination, vomiting, fever, alertness and any bleeding. Do not start aspirin, ibuprofen or another medicine that may increase bleeding without medical advice. Contact a GP Consultation service for assessment, especially after travel or mosquito exposure, or if you have another condition that affects bleeding or fluid balance.

Go to urgent care for persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood, fainting, breathing difficulty, confusion, severe drowsiness, cold clammy skin or very little urine. Worsening weakness or inability to drink also needs prompt review. A falling fever does not remove the need to respond to these signs.

Ask which effects you should monitor, whether you need repeat blood tests, how to replace fluids safely, what medicines to avoid and where to go if bleeding or faintness develops.