What should you know about dengue sickness?

Dengue is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms may begin after an interval following the bite and can resemble other illnesses, so symptoms alone cannot confirm the diagnosis. A clinician may assess your symptoms, travel or exposure history, hydration, bleeding signs, and whether testing is appropriate.

Many people recover with supportive care, but illness can become more serious around the time the fever starts to settle. Warning signs can include severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, blood in vomit or stool, marked weakness, confusion, breathing difficulty, or inability to drink.

Rest and take frequent fluids; oral rehydration drinks can help replace water and salts when you have sweating, vomiting, or poor appetite. Check your temperature and notice changes in urination, alertness, pain, or bleeding. Use only medicines advised for you. Paracetamol may be suitable for fever or discomfort, but ask a clinician or pharmacist about the correct product and dose.

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician specifically tells you to use them, because they may increase bleeding risk. Prevent further mosquito bites while ill by using screens, covering skin, and following local mosquito-control advice; a mosquito can acquire the virus from an infected person.

Arrange prompt medical advice for a high or ongoing fever, worsening symptoms, easy bruising, a new rash, repeated vomiting, or difficulty keeping fluids down. Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, unusual bleeding, fainting, confusion, extreme drowsiness, breathing difficulty, cold or clammy skin, or very little urine. Pregnancy, infancy, older age, and conditions affecting immunity, bleeding, the heart, kidneys, or liver warrant a lower threshold for assessment.

Ask whether your symptoms and recent mosquito or travel exposure make dengue testing useful, which fluids and fever medicines are appropriate, and which changes should prompt urgent review. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, long-term conditions, regular medicines, allergies, bleeding, reduced urination, and any recent use of aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain relief.