"I was helping to manage a dengue outbreak - then I became a patient myself"
This story represents one person's experience with dengue disease. It is important to talk with your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms that could be dengue disease. Dengue symptoms vary and are often unnoticeable or mild.
One morning, I woke up feeling a little off colour and very tired. I put this down to the intense workload, as I was managing a large non-profit project in Cambodia supporting the local authorities to run a hospital and 17 health centers.
There was a big dengue outbreak in process and the hospital was full of cases - it was so busy that sometimes we had three children to a bed.
It was a significant outbreak and the non-profit was also running a campaign to address mosquito control: this was done by increasing input into messaging around prevention, as well as supplying covers and the insecticide for water jars. They also led clean up campaigns.
I am very rarely ill so I ignored symptoms and continued with my workload given the situation, including preparations for an exchange visit between hospitals running different versions of a contracting process to improve quality of care.
This involved traveling between health centers and after a 3-hour journey our team arrived at the non-profit center, where the team were supporting another hospital. I was feeling increasingly weak and finding it difficult to walk but managed to take part in the visit and return to our own region.
The next day I again had to travel for two hours to the non-profit´s headquarters to conduct a meeting with the local NGO running an equity fund. It was very hot and humid, and I remember the wonderful relief of a glass of iced tea provided during the meeting. As I was coming down the stairs, I met our lab specialist who said: "You look awful"! I jokingly said that I thought I may have dengue. He arranged a few blood tests to be done in a local specialist children’s hospital which came back positive for dengue serotype 2. There are four different dengue serotypes.
By that point, I was unable to get out of my bed. The non-profit´s center was not equipped with air conditioning, so it was very hot.
I had daily blood tests. I was unable to read or do anything but sleep. The lovely house maid Pau supplied me with frequent drinks including squeezed fresh orange juice and I developed a bright red rash from head to foot. Questions were raised about evacuating me to Thailand, but I wanted to rest and let Pau take care of me. I was confined to my bed for about one week and then gradually got back on my feet to complete my mission and return to the UK.
Even in the English summer, I was unable to get warm and I was very tired and generally run down for about three months. As I experienced firsthand, both through my personal experience and what I witnessed during outbreaks in endemic regions, dengue can have a serious effect not only on the health and wellbeing of individuals, but also of entire nations.
Dr. Prudence Hamade is a Senior Technical Advisor at Malaria Consortium. Trained as a pediatrician, she has more than 20 years’ multi-country experience of implementing and capacity building initiatives to improve quality of care and control of infectious diseases, malnutrition and child health. Prudence has provided technical oversight and management for neglected tropical disease programs in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. In 2001, Prudence fell ill with dengue while working with a non-profit in Cambodia.
Do you have a dengue story to tell?
Your experience could be the key to helping others understand the impact of dengue. Whether you have been directly affected or have supported someone through it, your story can raise awareness, inspire others, and contribute to the global fight against dengue. Every voice matters, and by sharing your story, you can make a difference.
