Dengue Fever: Treatments

How is dengue fever treated?

There is no cure for dengue fever or vaccine to prevent the disease. Hospitalization in intensive care is required for people who develop dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Most healthy people who get dengue fever will recover in about two weeks to one month by:

• Getting plenty of rest

• Increasing fluid intake

• Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and body aches. People with dengue fever should not take aspirin or medications that contain aspirin because these medications increase the risk for severe bleeding and hemorrhage.

What are the possible complications of dengue fever?

In some cases, especially in children, dengue fever can lead to a serious complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever can progress into dengue shock syndrome, a life-threatening complication. If not quickly treated with intensive life-saving measures, dengue shock syndrome can be fatal. Dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome can develop in anyone with dengue fever but most often occurs in children who have had dengue fever previously.