Symptoms of dengue fever and how to treat it at home

Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted through an infected Aedes mosquito bite. Dengue poses a risk to approximately half of the global population, causing an estimated 100–400 million infections each year, as per WHO figures.
India has witnessed a significant rise in both cases and fatalities from vector-borne diseases across the country – particularly experiencing a surge in dengue cases and related deaths, notes Dr Sachin Shah, Director Neonatology & Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Surya Mother & Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune.
Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, explains, “There are 4 subtypes of dengue virus and a person can become infected with one subtype only once in their life following which they develop immunity for that particular subtype. Subsequent infection with a different subtype increases the risk of severe complications.”

Initial phase, critical period and recovery period

“The initial symptoms are high grade fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea and joint pain which last for approximately 5 days. By the end of this period is when the critical period starts where the BP falls, fluid accumulates in lungs and abdomen and rash develops. Some patients may also show bleeding manifestation. It is extremely important to identify these symptoms and hospitalize the patient urgently as these symptoms may be life threatening. This period is followed by the recovery phase which lasts 3-4 days,” Dr Tayal adds.

Symptoms of dengue fever

“Here are the common symptoms and some tips on how to treat it at home, but please note that severe cases of dengue can be life-threatening, so if you suspect you have dengue, seek medical attention promptly,” says Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.

Tips for treatment at home

Dr Manoj Sharma, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, explains, “the first step should be to consult a doctor and not to take over-the-counter medications.”
All dengue patients do not require hospitalization, says Dr Tayal. Majority of dengue patients can be managed at home with simple measures:

For initial symptoms that can be easily managed at home with medication and proper rest, Dr Sharma recommends these tips to follow:

Word of caution

Popular home remedies for dengue such as consumption of papaya leaf juice may do you more harm than good.
“Every year we see that people resort to a lot of home measures for increasing platelets such as papaya leaf juice and giloy. Papaya leaf juice is extremely unpleasant in taste and may lead to further vomiting and loose stools which can worsen the underlying dehydration. In a scientific study it was found that papaya juice has flavonoids and antioxidants which are also found in all fresh fruits and vegetables. So instead of drinking papaya juice, we should encourage the patient to have fresh fruits, vegetable soups and coconut water to boost up the immunity,” explains Dr Tayal.
“Given the increase in cases, many people rely on unproven remedies that could be risky and might delay appropriate medical treatment. Every year, we see that people resort to a lot of home measures for increasing platelet count – such as papaya leaf juice and kiwi. Consuming raw papaya leaves or extracts may lead to allergic reactions, gastrointestinal discomfort, or other potential complications. Additionally, dengue fever often causes a reduction in platelet count, which can result in bleeding complications. While some research studies suggest that papaya leaves might have the potential to increase platelet count, depending solely on unverified remedies may carry inherent risks and potentially delay required medical treatment,” adds Dr Shah.

When hospitalization is important

It is important to understand when symptoms can be managed at home and when hospitalization is essential. Dr Sharma warns, “We need to also understand here that after 5-7 days of treatment if your symptoms are not gone and have worsened you need immediate medical attention and may be hospitalized. If you have vomiting more than three times a day, fever is not going down even after taking medication, body ache is worsening and you are feeling dizzy, you need to rush to the nearest emergency. People need to understand that home treatment is effective only if you have mild symptoms. In case of symptoms worsening please correlate and reach the nearest hospital.”