How to Recover From Dengue Fever

How Long Does Dengue Fever Last?

The fever generally persists for 2 to 7 days. During this time, symptoms such as severe headache, body aches, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash are common.

Although these symptoms often improve within the first week, dengue fever symptoms and recovery can take up to a month, with some people continuing to feel tired or weak as they recover. 

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue. While it may begin with symptoms similar to dengue fever, it can also cause more significant bleeding, including bleeding from the gums, nose, beneath the skin or within internal organs. 

Prompt medical assessment and treatment are important to help reduce the risk of complications.

What to Do to Recover From Dengue Fever

Whether managing the fever at home or in the hospital, here are some tips on how to recover from dengue fever.

1. Maintain adequate hydration

Drink plenty of fluids (water, isotonic drinks, fruit juices and soup) to maintain hydration. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks with high sugar content which may cause dehydration. If you are unable to drink due to nausea or vomiting, fluids may be given intravenously by drip.

2. Keep symptoms under control

Fever and joint pains can be relieved by taking paracetamol. Medications may be prescribed for nausea, vomiting and if there are itchy rashes. Rashes usually resolve on its own over two to three weeks.

Avoid pain-relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and mefenamic acid as they may cause gastric ulcers and subsequent bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Some of these medications may thin the blood and increase chances of bleeding leading to complications requiring hospital admission. If unsure, please consult your doctor.

3. Avoid bleeding

Rest in bed, reduce risk of falls and injuries to avoid risk of unnecessary bleeding. Intramuscular injections should be avoided. If you develop bleeding, bruises or swellings while recovering from dengue fever, please contact your doctor or nurse immediately.

What Should You Eat During Dengue Recovery?

There is no specific dengue diet that cures the infection or rapidly raises platelet levels. When it comes to what to eat during dengue recovery, the main goal is to maintain adequate energy, fluids, and nutrition. 

When asked about foods for dengue recovery, Dr Pushpalatha answered, "There are no specific foods to eat or avoid; however, the common dictum when one falls sick from any illness applies, such as avoid raw, greasy, fatty, spicy foods. Light and easy-to-digest food is advised when one is sick." 

Here are some general eating tips for recovery:

1. For hydration

Adequate fluid intake is important during dengue recovery, particularly to help regulate body temperature. Plain water remains the simplest choice, while coconut water offers a natural source of electrolytes and may be easy on the stomach for some people.

2. To boost immunity

Certain foods may contribute to overall nutritional support during illness. These include fruits high in vitamin C, leafy greens, and berries, all of which are naturally rich in antioxidants.

3. Protein sources

Adequate protein intake supports the body's normal tissue maintenance and repair during illness. Suitable sources include chicken, turkey, fish, and soya-based foods.

These are general dietary suggestions to help maintain nutrition and hydration during dengue fever recovery. For personalised dietary advice, consult your doctor or healthcare team.

Dengue Recovery and Platelet Count

A drop in platelet count is common during dengue fever recovery and is something your doctor will monitor through regular blood tests. However, a rapid fall in platelet count, particularly when accompanied by bleeding, persistent vomiting, or lethargy, may be a sign that the condition is worsening and requires urgent medical attention. 

If these warning signs develop, do not wait for your next scheduled appointment. 

Seek medical help immediately, as this may indicate severe dengue, a potentially life-threatening condition that may require hospital treatment including intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, or blood and platelet transfusion.

What Not to Do During Dengue Recovery

1. Do not self-medicate

Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

2. Avoid foods with dark colours

This includes dark sauces, chocolate, or dark-coloured drinks. Foods with dark colours can make it difficult to distinguish whether there is blood in vomit or stools, which is an important warning sign to monitor during dengue fever home care.

3. Do not stop attending follow-up appointments

Even if your fever has improved. Regular monitoring of your platelet count and overall condition is essential.

4. Do not rely solely on home remedies

While rest and hydration are important, they are not a substitute for proper medical assessment and care. If you are unsure about your condition, get checked by a doctor.

How to Monitor Your Recovery at Home

During dengue fever home care, keeping track of how you or your loved one is feeling each day can help you and your healthcare team identify any changes early. 

Key things to monitor include:

• Body temperature and fever pattern. Note when the fever rises, falls, or returns.
• Fluid intake and urination. Monitor the ability to drink and retain fluids, and whether urination frequency is normal.
• Vomiting and abdominal pain. Track how often vomiting occurs and whether stomach discomfort is worsening.
• Alertness and energy levels. Note any unusual drowsiness, confusion, or sudden weakness. 

Where advised by your doctor, keep a simple daily record for dengue symptom monitoring, as well as a record of fluid intake and blood test results to bring to your follow-up appointments. 

Home monitoring is a helpful support measure, but it does not replace medical follow-up. 

Continue attending all scheduled reviews as advised by your healthcare team, even if symptoms appear to be improving.

When Should You See a Doctor Immediately?

Seek immediate help if symptoms worsen rather than improve, particularly around days three to seven after the onset of fever.

Specifically, please see a doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Vomiting blood
• Black and tarry stools
• Bleeding from the nose or gums
• Drowsiness or irritability
• Pale, cold, or clammy (sweaty) skin
• Difficulty breathing

Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment if any of these develop.

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites While Recovering

Preventing further mosquito bites during dengue recovery is important, not just for the person who is unwell, but for those around them. 

While recovering, take the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from dengue.

• Apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin and clothing as directed
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants to minimise exposed skin
• Use mosquito nets while resting or sleeping
• Clear any areas with stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. 

Mosquitoes can breed in small amounts of stagnant water, so regularly check and clear containers, plant trays, gutters, and other potential breeding spots to prevent mosquito breeding at home.

FAQs about dengue fever

1. What are the symptoms for dengue fever?

Dengue fever symptoms include:

• Fever (which can last up to 7 days)
• Intense headache with pain behind the eyes
• Body aches and joint pain
• Rashes
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mild bleeding (such as nose or gum bleeds) or easy bruising

2. How is dengue fever diagnosed?

As dengue fever symptoms are similar to other viral illnesses such as influenza, typhoid fever, malaria and mosquito borne infections like Chikungunya and Zika, your doctor will conduct clinical assessments and blood tests at regular intervals to determine which stage of dengue you are at. Tests include:

• Full blood count: To assess blood concentration, platelet count and white blood cells
• Dengue diagnostic tests: To confirm the dengue diagnosis
• Kidney and liver tests: To check for dehydration, kidney and liver function
• Other tests: Based on your condition

3. If I have dengue, will I spread it to others?

Dengue fever does not spread directly from person to person. However, a person with dengue fever can infect a mosquito when he or she is bitten and infected mosquitoes in turn can infect healthy people by biting them.

4. Can I get dengue fever again if I’ve been infected before?

There are 4 strains of the dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. Once you recover from one strain, you are unlikely to contract the same strain as your body would have built immunity against it. However, you may get dengue fever again from the other dengue strains.

“First-time dengue infections can be severe, especially among the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. But repeat dengue infections have been associated with higher risk of severe dengue (also known as dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome) which can be fatal,” explained Dr Pushpalatha.

“So it is important that everyone be vigilant in the prevention of dengue.”

Recovery From Dengue Fever

The answer to how to recover from dengue fever centres on adequate hydration, safe symptom management, rest, and regular medical follow-up.

Recognising warning signs early is just as important as managing symptoms at home.

If your condition worsens, bleeding develops, fluids cannot be retained, or you experience severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, fainting, or unusual drowsiness, seek medical attention immediately without delay.

Ref: J22 (seo)

Related articles:
Dengue: Latest Updates in Singapore and Internationally

How to Protect Yourself and Family From Dengue

Severe Dengue: Symptoms to Look Out For

Chikungunya: What Is It

Zika: What You Need to Know