How long does dengue last?

Dengue fever usually goes away within a week or two without causing any lasting damage.

However, if someone shows severe symptoms of the disease, or if symptoms worsen in the first day or two after the fever disappears, urgent medical care is required.

This could be tell-tale signs of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), or break-bone fever, which is a medical emergency.

Dengue, a viral infection, spreads from mosquitoes to people which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical climates, according to WHO.

Most people who contract the infection do not show symptoms. However, the most common symptoms include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash.

Since the beginning of 2024, at least 3,000 dengue-related deaths have been reported from 73 countries or territories. Meanwhile, at least 7.5 million dengue cases were reported worldwide, with most cases globally reported from the WHO Pan American Health Organization region, with Brazil reporting most cases.

There is no specific medication to treat dengue fever, as per WebMD and Mayo Clinic.

While recovering from dengue, the patient needs to drink plenty of liquids. One must call their doctor if they display any of the symptoms of dehydration and decreased urination.

If one has dengue fever or lives in an area where dengue is frequent, they should visit their nearest ER immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms — stomach or abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, throwing up blood, or the presence of blood in stool.

In order to recover from dengue fever sooner, patients are advised to consume food which are easy to digest and has sufficient amounts of nutrients and also maintain a balanced diet.

If someone shows the above symptoms and feels that they may have come down with dengue fever, they should take pain relief medicines with acetaminophen such as regular paracetamol (tylenol), and avoid medicines with aspirin, which may worsen the bleeding.

If a person comes down with dengue, they should take plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a doctor at the earliest.