Does a GP consultation treat dengue fever?

Dengue fever can cause fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle or joint aches, nausea and a rash. A GP will ask about the illness timeline, travel or mosquito exposure, bleeding symptoms and your medicines. They may examine you and arrange blood tests or other assessment.

Treatment is generally supportive: rest, suitable fluids and advice on reducing fever or pain. The clinician will consider your hydration, other illnesses and medicines before recommending symptom relief. Some people need repeat review because symptoms can change as the fever settles.

Follow the GP's fluid and medicine advice, rest, and keep a record of fever, vomiting, urine output and any bleeding. Avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician specifically tells you to use them, because they may increase bleeding risk in dengue.

Use mosquito protection while unwell to reduce the chance of passing the virus to mosquitoes. Tell the GP about pregnancy, blood-thinning medicine, stomach bleeding, kidney disease or difficulty drinking.

Seek urgent medical help for severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, blood in vomit or stool, unusual sleepiness, restlessness, breathing difficulty, cold clammy skin or inability to drink. These warning signs need prompt assessment even if the fever has started to improve.

Could this be dengue or another infection? Do I need testing or a repeat review? Which pain or fever medicines are suitable for me? How much should I drink? Which warning signs mean I should go straight to emergency care?