Dengue Fever

When to book the dengue vaccine

Book a consultation at least 4 months before travel, to allow time for both doses, if you are visiting a dengue-risk destination:

• Southeast Asia - Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia
• South Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal
• Central and South America - Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru
• The Caribbean - Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Barbados
• Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal
• Pacific Islands - Fiji, Samoa, Tonga
• Southern Europe - parts of Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Croatia have seen recent outbreaks

Higher risk of severe dengue applies to babies and very young children, adults over 65, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, people with asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure, and anyone who has had dengue before.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue is a viral infection spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the early morning and late afternoon rather than at night, so bed nets alone are not enough. It does not spread from person to person. Symptoms usually appear 4 to 10 days after a bite:

• A sudden high temperature
• Severe headache, often behind the eyes
• Muscle and joint pain, sometimes called breakbone fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swollen glands
• A blotchy rash across the body

Most people recover within 1 to 2 weeks with rest and fluids. Take paracetamol for fever and pain, and avoid ibuprofen and aspirin, which increase the risk of bleeding. Monitor symptoms closely between days 3 and 7, when severe dengue is most likely to develop.

Call 999 or go to A&E for severe stomach pain or persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stools, rapid or difficult breathing, or extreme tiredness, restlessness or irritability. These are signs of severe dengue, a medical emergency.

The dengue vaccine (Qdenga)

• Given as 2 doses, 3 months apart
• Administered as an injection under the skin
• Suitable for adults and children from age 4
• May be particularly recommended if you have had dengue before
• Not available on the NHS, so requires private payment

There are four dengue strains. Recovering from one gives lifelong immunity to that strain only, and a second infection with a different strain increases the risk of severe dengue, so tell your pharmacist about any previous infection.

Preventing dengue while travelling

• Wear long sleeves and trousers, especially early morning and late afternoon
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin
• Use screened windows, air conditioning and insecticide-treated nets
• Avoid areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed

Find the dengue vaccine near you

No GP referral required. Pharmacists experienced in travel health and comprehensive travel consultations at convenient local branches. Use the postcode search above to find your nearest Allied Pharmacy.