How to protect yourself
The dengue mosquito (Aedes) bites mainly in the daytime, early in the morning and in the late afternoon, including in town.
- Repellent: a DEET or icaridin product on exposed skin, reapplied after sweating or swimming.
- Clothing: long sleeves and light trousers at peak hours.
- Room: air conditioning or a mosquito net; empty any standing water around your accommodation (pots, buckets).
- Rainy season: the risk is higher from June to September (see the rainy season in Thailand).
Symptoms
After 4 to 10 days: sudden high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, sometimes a rash. Most cases clear up within a week with rest and fluids.
When to see a doctor
Go to hospital without waiting if any of these appear, often when the fever drops: severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding gums or nose, extreme tiredness or drowsiness, difficulty breathing. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen without medical advice (bleeding risk); paracetamol is the standard for fever. Useful hospitals and numbers are in our health and emergencies in Bangkok guide.
And the cost of care? A stay in a private hospital in Thailand is paid in full by a foreigner. A health and repatriation insurance (SafetyWing, bought online, for the length of the trip) covers care and the trip home. See our travel insurance guide.
Vaccine
A dengue vaccine exists in some countries; ask your doctor or a travel medicine clinic whether it suits your profile and whether you have already had dengue.
