While a lot of people consider malaria prevention when they travel (and rightly so!), many neglect to take precautions against dengue fever in Southeast Asia – another mosquito-borne infection which has the potential to be fatal.
If you’re gearing up for the trip of a lifetime, you’re in the right place. We will tell you everything you need to know about dengue fever, from how to minimise your chances of catching it, to recognising the symptoms and what to do if you think you have it.
The article will end with a short piece from Jayne Toulson Burke, who sadly lost her son Bob to the disease when he was on a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia in 2016.
Related: (opens in new tab)
- 🚨 Is Southeast Asia Safe to Travel?
- 🗺️ Planning a Trip to Southeast Asia
- 💉 What Vaccines Do I Need for Southeast Asia?
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Dengue Fever in Southeast Asia 🦟
Disclaimer: While this article has been diligently researched, the team at South East Asia Backpacker are not doctors. This article should provide a good overview of dengue fever but travellers should always seek to verify information using official medical sources. We always recommend visiting a travel health clinic before embarking on a trip. During a consultation, specialist doctors and nurses will provide expert advice on required vaccines and other potential health risks. Book an appointment at least 8 weeks before departure to allow time to organise any necessary medication or vaccinations.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue (also nicknamed ‘break bone fever’) is a mosquito-borne virus which spreads when an infected mosquito bites someone. Dengue is generally found in tropical and subtropical areas, including across Southeast Asia. However, over recent years, there has been an increase in dengue cases in Europe. Experts believe that this is a result of climate change.
Preventing Dengue Fever
Unlike the mosquitos which carry malaria, mosquitos infected with dengue bite mainly during the daytime. The best protection against dengue is to practice diligent bite avoidance. The following tips will help you avoid getting bitten by mosquitos when you travel.
- Wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers when possible
- Stay in places with window/door screens
- Sleep under a mosquito net
- Use a high-quality mosquito-repellent
Good to Know! 💡
DEET-based mosquito repellent is one of the most popular options for keeping these biting blighters away. However, the DEET content doesn’t need to be super strong. 40% is more than enough as long as you reapply as directed. The stronger the DEET content, the longer it lasts – it doesn’t actually provide higher levels of protection. Icaridin or Picardin (two names for the same thing) are also very effective and a common alternative for those who would rather not use DEET.
READ 👉 Avoiding Mosquito Bites in Thailand
Dengue Fever Symptoms
According to Fit for Travel, nearly 100 million cases of dengue are thought to occur every year. However, most infected people will only show mild symptoms or none at all. Unfortunately, the symptoms are very similar to flu so it can be hard to know if you have dengue. Symptoms usually begin somewhere between 4-10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They include:
- High temperature
- Pain behind the eyes
- Muscle/joint pain
- Swollen glands
- Severe headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blotchy rash (flat or slightly raised spots)
Dengue Fever Treatment
There is no specific treatment for dengue, only the symptoms of dengue. Most cases will resolve on their own after around a week. Travellers are advised to rest, drink plenty of water and take paracetamol to manage the fever.
Important! 🚨
If you think you are suffering from dengue, you should not take anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen as this can cause complications in patients with dengue, such as internal bleeding.
Severe Dengue
While most patients will recover from dengue, a few develop much more serious symptoms as the infection transforms into severe dengue, also known as dengue haemorrhagic fever. The CDC estimates that 1/20 will get severe dengue which can be fatal.
Interestingly, those who have had dengue fever and recovered will develop a lifelong immunity to that strain, however, there are four types of dengue and it is possible to contract the virus on multiple occasions. You are more likely to develop severe dengue if you have been infected in the past.
Severe dengue symptoms begin to emerge around 24-48 hours after the fever has subsided and can include:
- Stomach tenderness
- Bleeding from gums or nose
- Repeated vomiting (at least 3 times in the last 24 hours)
- Feeling very tired or restless
- Blood in stools/vomit
- Feelings of extreme thirst
- Fast breathing
If you suspect you have severe dengue, you should go to a hospital immediately (a government one is recommended) and ask for a blood test. You may need to explain where you have travelled recently. This is the only way to conclusively confirm a dengue diagnosis. Patients can deteriorate very quickly and it is important to get seen by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Travel Insurance 🏥
Travel insurance should be considered an essential purchase for anyone heading to Southeast Asia. In extreme cases of illness or injury, it can be the difference between life and death. In extreme cases of dengue fever, your platelet count drops to critically low levels which could mean you need a blood transfusion. Comprehensive travel insurance will cover this kind of medical treatment in an emergency and may just save your life. SafetyWing is our favourite travel insurance provider but if you want even more comprehensive medical cover, consider opting for Genki.
Dengue Fever Vaccine
Despite what you may have read, there are vaccines for dengue fever in existence. However, they are not available everywhere and don’t provide long-term protection.
Most of the time, only those living in a country where dengue is present or travellers who have been infected with dengue in the past (and have a confirmed diagnosis from a positive blood test) will be recommended the vaccine.
If dengue is something you are concerned about, it is worth booking a travel health consultation for the most up-to-date advice from medical professionals.
A Mother’s Story
After losing her son Bob to dengue while he was on a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, Jayne Toulson Burke has been on a mission to raise awareness about this deadly virus. Huge thanks to her for sharing her story:
My son Bob, aged 21, decided to go on a backpacking trip in Southeast Asia. The plan was to start in Vietnam, travel through Laos, Thailand and finish in Cambodia. He had prepared well for the trip (or so we thought) and had all the required vaccinations and malaria tablets advised. When his trip began on 6th September 2016, I kissed my very excited son and told him to be safe.
Bob and his friends arrived in Laos around the middle of November where they stayed by a river next to a farm. In hindsight, we think it was here that he was bitten by the infected mosquito. After they arrived in Laos, all of Bob’s friends started to become ill, developing flu-like symptoms such as fevers, loss of appetite, headaches, joint pain and fatigue. We kept in touch and I remember him saying “It’s my turn next” during a phone call to me.
At the end of November, Bob travelled to Bangkok but we didn’t hear from him when he arrived as we usually did. We messaged him and his friends but received no response. We convinced ourselves that there wasn’t any WiFi and that was why he hadn’t been in touch.
The following day, Bob called to tell us he was ill. I remember him saying that his “head didn’t seem part of his body”, and that he had gone to a nearby hospital to get everything checked out. At the hospital, they took his blood and did an X-ray. The doctors reported that everything seemed fine and that if he didn’t feel any better in a couple of days, he should go back.
The people that Bob was travelling with were starting to recover but his symptoms had escalated, mutating into severe dengue. He was now struggling to breathe. As advised, Bob went back to the hospital but the staff failed to recognise what was going on. By the time they had worked out that it was severe dengue, it was too late.
The last time I heard from my son, he was on the phone saying he was being transported to another hospital. While travelling in the ambulance, he had four heart attacks and never regained consciousness. Bob passed away on 7th December 2016 from hemorrhagic dengue fever.
Empowerment starts with awareness so I have been using my voice for over five years to spread the word about dengue fever. I will never stop. I couldn’t help my boy but with more awareness, we can save lives. For more information about dengue and the attempts being made to eradicate it, check out the World Mosquito Program.
Sheree Hooker | Editor @ South East Asia Backpacker + Winging The World
Sheree is the awkward British wanderluster behind Winging The World, a blog designed to show that even the most useless of us can travel. Follow Sheree’s adventures as she blunders around the globe, falling into squat toilets, getting into cars with machete men and running away from angry peacocks. In recent years, Sheree has also taken on the role of editor at South East Asia Backpacker.
