01/11/2023
Dengue fever does not have a specific treatment. The treatment is determined by the stage of the patient's disease. Adequate rest, sufficient fluid intake and consultation with a clinician are recommended. Patients might be sent home, referred for in-hospital management, or they may require emergency treatment and urgent referral, depending on the clinical symptoms and other circumstances.
Muscle aches and pains, as well as fever, can be managed with supportive treatment, such as antipyretics and pain killers.
Acetaminophen or Paracetamol are preferred to treat the symptoms. Patients who present early without warning signs can be treated with Acetaminophen and adequate oral fluids in an outpatient setting. Such patients should be informed about the warning signs and instructed to immediately contact the hospital if any of the signs are present.
Patients with warning signs, severe dengue, or other situations, such as infancy, elderly, pregnancy, diabetes, or those living alone, must be hospitalised. Those who show warning signs should receive intravenous (IV) crystalloids, with the fluid rate being titrated according to the patient's response.
Colloids can be given to patients who are in shock, and they are also preferred if the patient has previously received crystalloid boluses and has not responded.
Blood transfusion is required when the patient remains unstable in case of severe bleeding or suspected bleeding, and the haematocrit declines after adequate fluid resuscitation.
When the platelet count falls
