As dengue is a virus, there is nothing doctors can do to ‘cure’ it. All you can do is rest, take painkillers and drink plenty of water.
However, if you have been diagnosed with dengue, it is best to be treated under the supervision of medical professionals in case your symptoms get worse. In hospital, your symptoms will be managed by:
- monitoring your fluid levels to keep them balanced
- monitoring your temperature
- monitoring your blood
A vaccine or specific treatment to help treat dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever has not yet been developed, because the four different strains of dengue virus make it difficult to develop a vaccine.
If you are somewhere with no medical help:
- Rest as much as you can.
- Drink plenty of fluids, but make sure these are clean (buy bottled water and do not drink from the tap).
- Take rehydration salts to replace lost fluids and minerals.
- Do not take anything with aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can increase your risk of internal bleeding (take paracetamol instead).
Getting back to normal
You will feel very weak and unwell for a while. Most people recover within two weeks, although it can sometimes take months for you to get back to normal. If you are worried about any aspect of your treatment or diagnosis when abroad, see a doctor when you get home. Tell them where you have been, what your symptoms were and what treatment you received.
