Diary of a dengue fever attack: what the symptoms really feel like, what it's like to recover, and how you can protect yourself and your family
It’s true that dengue fever still affects us here in Singapore, and can be deadly. Singapore’s devastating dengue outbreak of 2013 (which affected 22,000 people, including casualties) was a stark reminder of the severity of the virus, which is primarily spread through mosquitoes. Children are particularly at risk, along with pregnant women; but armed with the right knowledge, from protecting yourself with repellants to making your home a mosquito-free zone, there is much that you can do to protect yourself and your family from dengue.
You may have heard of the symptoms: sudden fever; severe headache; joint or muscle pain; skin rashes; nausea and vomiting; and bleeding from the nose or gums. But to help you understand how dengue can manifest itself and what the recovery process is like, HoneyKids’ Managing Editor, Rachael Wheeler, shares her personal account of suffering through 10 days of dengue – which she cruelly caught on her birthday.
10 days with dengue fever
Day one
The first 24 hours is about the ferocious, emotional fever – not that I know I’ve got dengue at this point. I’m so painfully cold (yup, in Singapore!), that I have to sit in a hot bath for hours. Every time my other half suggests getting out of said bath, I burst into tears (I’m not usually a cryer). Yet, my temperature is off the charts. A trip to the doctor is probably advisable at this point, but there’s no way I can get it together and leave the hotel room (oh, did I mention it was my birthday and I was on a staycation?). Now, it’s worth mentioning that I had been out the night before at my birthday party – so my other half and I assume I’m suffering from the worst, most pathetic hangover of all time. There’s definitely an element of sickness and bone tiredness. Did I drink more than I realised and poison myself?
Day two
The fever subsides, but the extreme exhaustion and yucky motion sickness (no vomiting, but no desire for food) continues. Everyone assumes I’m struggling with a very weird two-day hangover and tells me to man up.
Day three
More sickness and exhaustion, plus the addition of body aches and spasms. Little gremlins are prodding at my spine, my nerves are super sensitive, I can’t eat and I fall asleep at my desk (oh yes – I’m guilted into going to work, on account of my ‘hangover’). Time to go to the GP. I’m asked by the doctor whether I’ve been bitten recently. On account of being a champion sunbather and a frequent runner, I’ve always got a few mossie bites on the go. He checks temperature, blood pressure and skin appearance. I’ve got no rash, so I’m told it must be a 48-hour bug. I slump into a cab and head home, none the wiser.
Day four
Body aches ramp up, I manage to keep my eyes open to work for 30 minutes at a time (from home), napping for around 45 minutes in between. All of my movements are veeeery slow – walks across the apartment are followed by long sit downs. Food is still off the cards (stomach looking great!). Sit-down showers that take up to an hour become the norm.
Day five
Day five is the same as day four, but my appetite returns a little. I return to the walk-in clinic… I’m told the bug will pass and am given painkillers for the aches. “It can’t be dengue, as there’s no rash,” I’m reassured.
Day six
I manage to make it into work after a surge of energy in the morning. It’s safe to say that a large amount of time is spent staring blankly at the screen, and I fall asleep again. Wait, what’s this? A rash on my hands! Very itchy… very annoying. Am I having an allergic reaction to something? Ooh, I’m on acne medication – it must be that. Right, I’m off to the dermatologist. Nice dermatologist suggests a blood test. Ooh, you have the results, you say? My platelets have dropped off the scale, you say? I should be in hospital, you say? It’s been dengue fever all along, you say? I immediately call everyone I know and make them feel impossibly bad for mocking me all week.
Day seven
I talked my dermo out of checking me into the hospital by promising to go to the blood clinic for tests every day. This is to ensure my platelets are rebuilding, and not dropping. If they drop further, it’s hospital bed for me, to ensure I’m taking it easy and at no risk of bleeding (internal bleeding is the main concern with dengue). By this point, I’m actually feeling less achey and tired, and my rising platelets reflect this in the results. Woohoo!
Day eight
Back to the hospital for more blood tests. Platelets still rising. Feeling stronger!
Day nine
Hello hospital folks, blood test please! Platelets rising and hitting an acceptable level – I’m given the all-clear and good to go (but told to take it easy for another two weeks).
Day 10
The rash disappears, my aches dry up and I’m pretty much back to normal. There’s definitely an additional dose of tiredness that I’m not used to (which takes a month to fully shift), but I can deal with it. Phew, peace out dengue! Can I have another birthday present please?
Protect your family
Currently, there is no vaccine proven to entirely prevent you from contracting dengue fever. The best method is to do what it takes to prevent yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes. Did you know:
- Leaving still water around the home attracts mosquitoes, so change water in flower vases often. For outdoors, clear puddles of water and regularly clean roof gutters.
- Alcohol makes you more attractive to mosquitoes, and 350ml beer is enough to create an effect.
- Natural compounds found in human sweat will also attract mosquitoes, so slap on the repellent while you’re out on that run.
- The colours black, blue and red have been found to attract mosquitoes: would this make you reconsider your wardrobe?
- Pregnant women attract approximately twice as many mosquito bites as other people, so take extra measures to protect yourself: think long-sleeved clothing and trousers, as well as repellant.
- Mosquitoes are attracted to warmth – another reason to stay cool in Singapore!
For peace of mind
If you or a family member needs medical treatment or hospitalisation while suffering through the severity of dengue fever, having access to the best facilities is tantamount. To find out more about obtaining insurance that will provide your family with coverage for dengue fever or any other disease, both in Singapore and throughout the rest of the world, contact Pacific Prime Singapore. Their helpful agents can answer all of your questions and provide you with free quotes that compare plans from the world’s best insurance companies. Having this safety net, and access to efficient services and facilities that will enable a quick recovery can make a world of difference.
This post is sponsored by Pacific Prime Singapore.