Dengue Fever

What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue virus spreads through Aedes species mosquito bites. Aedes mosquitoes also spread chikungunya and Zika viruses.

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Symptoms

Dengue symptoms usually appear five to eight days after being bitten and can include fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and strange taste sensations. A few days after the rash appears, the dengue fever breaks and recovery begins.

Prevention

Day-biting mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as dengue. A dengue fever vaccine is currently not available in Australia, so mosquito avoidance is crucial.

Treatment

  • Rest in bed to enable the body to fight the disease.
  • Paracetamol is recommended to reduce body temperature and relieve pain.
  • Aspirin must NOT be used with dengue, and avoid anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.
  • Drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration.