The Consequences of Dengue for Families
The Risk of Underestimating Dengue
A study published in 2024 shows that 2 in 5 Malaysians still believe there is a cure for dengue.1 The same study also noted that about 4 in 5 Malaysians scored less than 80% on a quiz testing their knowledge of dengue.1 The inconvenient truth is that there is no cure for dengue and limited knowledge on dengue can put you and your family at risk.
Dengue is endemic in Malaysia meaning that all 4 serotypes of dengue are present all year round.2 Dengue can strike anyone, anywhere, and anytime. A bite from an infected Aedes mosquito can lead to a serious infection.3 Underestimating dengue can be dangerous.
Severe dengue is a serious condition that may require hospitalisation and can even lead to death.3 Complications of severe dengue require close monitoring as treatment for dengue only involves managing the symptoms and conditions caused by dengue.4 Since there is no cure for dengue, patients must wait for their recovery which affects their ability to work and daily living.3 This may mean spending days to weeks in a hospital or recovering from post dengue syndrome.5
Did You Know Most Dengue Deaths Happen Between the Ages of 15 and 59?
From 2012 to 2021, more than 65% of dengue deaths in Malaysia were recorded among people aged 15 to 59. The main causes of death within this age group were internal bleeding and organ failure, severe complications that can arise from dengue infection.6 This suggests that everyone is at risk of severe dengue no matter how active or fit one thinks they might be. Symptoms of dengue may present with warning signs of severe dengue, which may require immediate medical attention.3 Dengue should not be underestimated and precautions should be taken to protect yourself and your loved ones from dengue.
The Hidden Impact of Dengue on Families
Dengue does not just affect your health — it can also disrupt your family’s daily life and finances. Research in Malaysia shows that dengue can cause adults to miss around seven to nine working days, leading to lost income and productivity.1,2 This impact can be even greater when considering indirect costs, such as time taken off work or caregiving responsibilities, which place additional strain on families.
These hidden challenges remind us that dengue’s true cost goes beyond hospital bills — it affects the stability, comfort, and wellbeing of the families who encounter it.
Families and patients have shared harrowing dengue experiences and recalled the fear of seeing their children hospitalised. Others have described that dengue affected their energy and work with fatigue lingering long after recovery affecting their productiveness. Listen to patient and caregiver stories here.
What Parents Can Do to Reduce the Risk of Dengue for Their Family
Parents can reduce the risk of dengue by taking consulting their doctors on4,7:
- Dengue vaccination
- Elimination of breeding sites
- Prevention of mosquito bites
Protect Yourself to Protect Your Family By protecting yourself, you are also safeguarding your family’s wellbeing. By protecting your loved ones, you allow yourself peace of mind. Dengue is a serious and deadly disease, but you have the power to act against it to keep yourself and your family safe.
