What is the dengue period?

Symptoms do not necessarily start immediately after a mosquito bite. Once illness begins, fever may occur with headache, chills, muscle aches or joint pain. The pattern and intensity vary, and symptoms can overlap with other viral illnesses.

A critical change can occur as fever settles, when some people develop warning signs rather than straightforward improvement. Easy bruising, bleeding, severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty or unusual drowsiness should not be dismissed as part of an ordinary fever.

Note when symptoms began and whether they are improving or changing. Drink fluids, rest and seek a GP Consultation for advice about assessment and safe symptom relief. Avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines unless a clinician specifically recommends them. Prevent mosquito bites while unwell to reduce the chance of a mosquito carrying the virus onward.

Seek urgent medical help for any bleeding, black stool, severe pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, confusion, breathing trouble or rapidly increasing weakness. Urgency is determined by the warning sign, not by how long the illness has lasted.

Ask what stage your symptoms may represent, whether testing is useful at this point, how long to monitor after fever changes, and when normal activities are appropriate.