Post-Dengue Symptoms: Lasting Impact After Recovery from Dengue | Know Dengue
Life After Dengue: Understanding Post-Dengue Symptoms
Symptoms of dengue often lasts 1 to 2 weeks for most patients.1 However, about 1 in 5 patients may continue to feel tired, weak, and dizzy for more than 3 months after recovering from their dengue experience.2 This lingering effect is known as ‘post-dengue fatigue syndrome’ or ‘post-dengue symptoms’ (PDS).3
It is estimated that dengue has an economic burden of US$8.9 billion (approximately RM 42 billion) per year with 40% of this estimate is due to loss of productivity from hospitalisation and PDS. Days lost by patient post hospitalisation range from 1 to 19 days which impacts a family’s livelihood and care duties.4
About Post-Dengue Symptoms
A study by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes post-dengue symptom (PDS) as persistant symptoms of dengue that last for weeks or months after the initial infection. Symptoms of PDS may include5:
- Persistent fatigue and weakness
- Joint or muscle pain
- Neurological symptoms like headache cognitive impairment, and
- Mood changes long after the dengue infection has passed
How PDS Affects Your Daily Life
Patients experiencing PDS may feel tired even after a full night’s sleep or notice that simple chores take more effort than usual. This tiredness can make it difficult to focus at work or manage family responsibilities or even daily routines, reflecting how dengue can affect the daily lives of people in their most active years — as shown in Malaysia’s 15 to 59 age group most affected by dengue.6 You can read about one patient’s personal experience with PDS here.
In children, PDS may affect their focus and participation in school activities.4
PDS can also impact one’s emotional well-being. Research has found that depression is about three times more likely among people recovering from dengue compared to the general population.7
For more insight into how dengue affects families in Malaysia, see The Consequences of Dengue for Families.
Overcoming PDS
There is currently no cure for dengue or PDS.1 Most treatment is catered to managing symptoms such as tiredness and mood.1,3
Prevention is Best
The best way to reduce your and your loved ones’ risk of PDS is to prevent dengue. Consult your doctor on1:
- Dengue vaccination
- Elimination of breeding sites
- Prevention of mosquito bites
When dengue strikes and leads to PDS, recovery can take longer than expected, leaving you too tired to manage work or family responsibilities. That is why prevention matters most. Taking early action can reduce your risk of long-term effects and help keep dengue from disrupting your life and family.
