A guide to avoiding dengue while travelling
A guide to avoiding dengue while travelling
Are you travelling to Asia, South America or the Caribbean? Be aware of dengue!
What is dengue?
Dengue is a virus spread by mosquitos, especially day biting mosquitos. There are 4 different types of dengue (DENV1-4). Some people have no symptoms at all, but in people who do become unwell, symptoms usually start after 5 to 8 days, and can include fever, headache behind the eyes, rash, muscle aches, nausea and abdominal pain. Most infections self-resolve after about a week. Symptoms suggestive of severe disease include lethargy, severe abdominal pain and bleeding. Severe dengue is more likely in people who have had dengue before and are infected with a different type.
Dengue can be diagnosed with blood tests. There is no specific treatment, but some people need to be admitted to hospital for monitoring and sometimes fluids or other supportive treatment.
The risk of catching dengue
Dengue is very widespread. Most cases in travellers are acquired in Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. However, due to changes in the climate, the mosquitos carrying dengue have become more widespread and outbreaks have been reported in France, Spain, Croatia and Italy. Risk is higher in rainy and humid seasons. The WHO estimates that dengue affects over 5 million people per year.
Reducing the risk of catching dengue
The main way to reduce the risk of catching dengue is avoidance of mosquito bites. We can give you detailed advice about this in travel clinic. For people who have had dengue before, and are therefore at higher risk of severe dengue, a vaccine is available. We can assess whether this would be suitable for you and administer the vaccine in our clinic.
What to do if you have dengue symptoms
If you have fevers or feel unwell following travel you should seek medical advice urgently. Patients who are unwell can be referred to our NHS infectious diseases clinic, where we provide expert assessment and rapid diagnostic tests.
Visit the travel clinic to find out more or book in for a vaccine