How many days does it take for a person to recover from dengue?

A dengue It is a self-limiting infection, that is, the vast majority of people recover completely after a few days of symptoms, especially in milder cases of the disease. However, the Duration of the illness may vary from one person to another the care she takes during the infection and, of course, the intensity and severity of the symptoms.

Typically, the first signs of dengue include high fever, sudden onset, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, pain behind the eyes and fatigue. That's the call acute phase of the disease and usually last up to 7 days according to Rodrigo Farnetan, infectious disease specialist and coordinator of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the Mater Dei Health Network.

However, it is after this moment that alarm signs may appear and indicate a worsening of the condition. Among the most serious symptoms of dengue are intense and continuous abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, accumulation of fluid in body cavities, drop in blood pressure (hypotension), increase in the size of the liver (hepatomegaly), mucosal bleeding and the appearance of spots. red on the skin.

In these more serious cases, the Recovery time may vary from one patient to another , according to Silvana Barros, infectious disease specialist and Head of the Epidemiology and Infection Control Service at the Mater Dei Health Network. “In severe, rarer forms, the patient requires hospitalization and recovery time is variable. Everything will depend on the patient's response to treatment, presence or absence of comorbidities. It’s hard to predict,” she says.

Chronic symptoms resulting from dengue can last for months

Mild and severe cases of dengue are part of the acute phase of infection , which, as we have seen, can last a week or a little longer, depending on the severity of the condition. However, after this acute phase, some people may notice chronic symptoms which persist even after the end of the infection — something similar to what happens with long Covid, for example.

A chronic phase It mainly manifests itself with tiredness, muscle weakness and fatigue. “This phase lasts up to 90 days, with better days and worse days, but with a progressive trend of improvement. A good number of patients have a mild condition, but symptoms may persist even after the acute phase for weeks or months”, explains Farnetan.

Dengue treatment involves rest and hydration

There is still no specific treatment for dengue, but some precautions are important to speed up recovery and alleviate symptoms. According to the Ministry of Health, the main recommendations are:

• Rest;
• Fluid intake;
• Avoid self-medication (some medications are contraindicated if dengue is suspected);
• Return for clinical reassessment as per medical advice.