Dengue fever is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms. The virus is spread through mosquitoes and is found in many countries in Africa, Asia, Central, and South America. The disease can be serious and require intensive care in a hospital.
Symptoms of dengue fever
It usually takes between two and ten days from being infected to getting sick. The disease usually starts quickly.
You get one or more of the following symptoms of dengue fever:
- Red eyes.
- High fever with chills and sweating.
- Headaches and aches behind the eyes.
- Severe pain in the muscles.
You usually become fever-free within a week, but the disease can become life-threatening and require hospital care. You may then need to get fluid directly into the blood, called a drip. Many feel tired than usual up to a month afterward.
The virus is available in four different variants. If you have had dengue before, your body has developed resistance to that variant of the virus. But you can get the disease again with any of the other virus types. The risk of you becoming seriously ill increases slightly if you get dengue fever more than once.
Severe dengue fever
It’s unusual, but it happens that some people who get dengue fever become worse after first getting better. This is because small blood vessels have become fragile and bleeding then occurs in the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs. The vast majority of people get healthy by using fluid directly into the blood via drip and monitoring in the intensive care unit.
When and where should I seek care?
Seek medical attention immediately if you have a high fever during a trip abroad in countries where dengue exists. Read more about how you receive care abroad and what you need to think about.
Contact a health care center or an on-call reception immediately if you have a fever after a trip abroad.
If it is closed at the health center or on-call reception, seek care at an emergency room.
This is how dengue fever infects
Dengue fever is spread through mosquitoes that mainly sting during the day. Mosquitoes are most common in areas with dense settlements and many inhabitants. The virus does not transmit directly to humans.
Where is dengue fever?
The disease is found in many countries in Africa, Asia, Central, and South America. It is most common during the rainy season and can then spread quickly in epidemics.
How can I prevent dengue fever?
To protect yourself against mosquito bites daytime, you should use mosquito bites several times a day. There should be mosquito nets for windows and doors or air conditioning in the room.
Treatment for dengue fever
Dengue fever is caused by a virus and cannot be treated. On the other hand, those who have become very ill may need to be hospitalized to get fluid directly into the blood, so-called drip.