Self-Care Guidelines
To prevent dengue fever, protect yourself from all mosquito bites:
- Wear neutral-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants that have been pretreated with a special long-lasting insecticide.
- Cover exposed skin with insecticide.
- Sleep under a mosquito net.
- Avoid spending time outdoors during the day, when dengue fever mosquitoes are mostly likely to bite.
- Get rid of areas of standing water, such as tires, flower pots, and puddles that may breed mosquitoes.
- Before traveling to any tropical climate, check with the cdc.gov Web site to learn if there is a current dengue fever epidemic in that area.
Note: In the case of severe dengue fever, taking fever-reducing medicines such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen can be very harmful. Do not take these or any other medications without discussing with your doctor. For any illness with fever, be sure to rest and stay well hydrated.
When to Seek Medical Care
Always seek medical care for any illness with high fever that persists or is painful. In general, any rash that looks like red-purple pinpoint dots (petechiae), particularly if it accompanies an illness with fever, should be evaluated by a doctor.
Because dengue fever is a rare diagnosis in the US, be sure to mention your travel history to your doctor.
Signs and Symptoms
