What should you know about the effect of dengue in pregnancy?

Dengue is an infection that can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, chills, and marked tiredness. Pregnancy can make it harder to judge whether symptoms are from infection or normal pregnancy changes, so do not wait for symptoms to become severe before contacting a clinician. A pregnant person may need observation, fluid assessment, and blood tests to check blood counts and signs that the illness is worsening.

The infection may also affect the pregnancy, particularly if the pregnant person becomes seriously unwell, loses fluid, or develops bleeding. The care team can assess fetal wellbeing and coordinate obstetric and medical care. A diagnosis cannot be made from symptoms alone; other infections can look similar.

Contact your maternity team, GP, or urgent medical service promptly if dengue is possible or has been diagnosed. Rest, take fluids in small frequent amounts if you can keep them down, and record your symptoms and any medicines taken. Use only medicines your clinician says are suitable in pregnancy; some pain or fever medicines can increase bleeding risk or may not be appropriate.

Tell the clinician where you have travelled or lived, when the fever began, whether you can drink and urinate normally, and whether you have had vomiting, abdominal pain, a rash, or bleeding. Do not self-treat with leftover medicines or delay review because the fever briefly improves.

Seek emergency care for severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, confusion, trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness, vaginal bleeding, blood in vomit or stool, or bleeding that does not stop. Urgent assessment is also needed if you cannot keep fluids down, are passing very little urine, or notice reduced fetal movement after you have been advised how to monitor it.

Dengue can become more serious around the time a fever settles, so worsening symptoms need attention even when the temperature is lower. Take your pregnancy records and a list of medicines with you.

Ask whether you need a dengue test, repeat blood tests, or monitoring at a hospital; which fever or pain medicine is suitable; how much fluid to aim for; how to monitor fetal movement; and which warning signs mean you should return immediately.