Dengue treatment: what you should know

Dengue treatment is mainly supportive: drink fluids, rest, use safe fever relief, and watch closely for warning signs. A clinician may assess your symptoms, hydration, blood results, and the stage of illness to decide how closely you need to be followed. There is no routine antiviral medicine that clears dengue, so careful monitoring matters.

Dengue can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, chills, nausea, or a rash. Symptoms may change as the fever settles, and a person can become more unwell during that transition. A doctor may recommend blood tests and repeat checks rather than relying on fever alone. This helps identify dehydration or changes that need medical care.

Drink water and other suitable fluids regularly. Oral rehydration solution can help replace fluid and salts when there has been sweating, vomiting, or poor intake. Rest, light meals, and keeping a record of fluid intake and urination can make changes easier to notice.

Follow the dose instructions for paracetamol only if it is suitable for you and your clinician or pharmacist agrees. Do not combine products that contain paracetamol. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician specifically tells you to use them, because they can increase bleeding concerns in dengue.

Use a mosquito net or repellent while you are ill, especially during the first part of the illness, to reduce the chance of mosquitoes picking up and spreading the virus. Avoid strenuous activity and contact a clinician if you cannot keep fluids down.

Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, black stools, unusual bruising, marked drowsiness or restlessness, trouble breathing, fainting, cold clammy skin, or much less urine. These signs can indicate a complication or significant fluid loss. Do not wait for the fever to return before seeking help.

Arrange prompt medical advice if you are pregnant, very young, older, living with a long-term illness, taking medicines that affect bleeding, or unable to drink normally. A [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) can help decide whether you need examination, testing, or follow-up.

Ask which pain or fever medicines are appropriate for you, how much fluid to aim for, whether you need blood tests or a repeat assessment, and which warning signs should send you to an emergency department. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, existing liver or kidney problems, bleeding disorders, and every medicine or supplement you take.