Although only about 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop severe dengue,1 some people have a higher risk than others of getting seriously ill.2
An obvious, but important, factor in whether you will develop severe dengue is how much you are exposed to the virus.
If you live or travel in warmer, more humid climates, especially high-risk areas, your risk of exposure to dengue virus is higher than someone who lives in a non-endemic area.3
Additional factors that put you at greater risk of developing severe dengue include your age, sex and medical history. People with increased risk include:
- People previously infected with a dengue virus
• There are 4 different types of the dengue virus so you can be infected more than once. The risk of developing severe dengue is higher if you’ve already been infected with a different type of dengue virus once before3
- People with underlying medical conditions
• Underlying medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, obesity, and heart disease, increase your risk of developing severe dengue.2,4
- Women, especially pregnant women4
If you or anyone you are travelling with is in a higher risk group, speak to your doctor about the risks of dengue and how you can help minimize them.
