Faizzudin, a father of five from Malaysia, experienced the overwhelming impact of dengue when three of his children became infected with the mosquito-borne disease, within days of each other. All three required hospitalization, one after the other, and each experienced a range of symptoms including high fever, abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and liver inflammation. One of his sons developed an abnormally low heart rate, which required urgent medical intervention.

Balancing work, school, and round-the-clock hospital care placed a heavy emotional and physical toll on the entire family. Thankfully, all three children made a full recovery.

The experience has made the family much more vigilant about dengue prevention. Living in a dengue-endemic country, Faizzudin and his wife now take active steps to reduce mosquito breeding at home, and encourage others to stay alert to the risks.

This video features real individuals sharing their experiences with dengue. The video reflects a patient’s specific experience and is not intended to represent those of a typical patient. Given the nature of dengue, symptoms and experiences will vary. If you or a family member are experiencing any symptoms, consult a healthcare provider promptly.

17-year-old Francisco from Argentina began feeling unwell whilst watching a football match with his brother. By the time the game was over, he began to experience symptoms which included a high temperature and noticed a rash. The next day, he began vomiting and was admitted to hospital with dengue fever. Francisco’s father Alejandro describes his ‘deep sense of worry’ for his child, as he didn’t know how the situation would develop. After a few days, Francisco began to recover from his dengue symptoms and was discharged from hospital. But his ‘life changed’, and, following his unusual experience with dengue, he was unable to return to school with the other children for nearly six weeks. Although only around 5% of people with dengue fever develop severe dengue,¹ Francisco admits he didn’t appreciate how serious dengue symptoms in children can be and urges others to protect themselves from this mosquito-borne disease.

This video features real individuals sharing their experiences with dengue. The video reflects a patient’s specific experience and is not intended to represent those of a typical patient. Given the nature of dengue, symptoms and experiences will vary.

1. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/hcp/clinical-signs/ Accessed November 2024.

Natacha, from Brazil, has spent most of her teenage years as a wheelchair user since contracting dengue fever twice at the age of just 14. Although only around 1 in 20 people with dengue fever develop severe dengue,¹ Natasha's story is an especially rare and unique case, particularly in the context of dengue disease outcomes; she experienced serious dengue symptoms including significant weight loss and extreme weakness in her legs, which left her unable to walk. She reflects upon the impact that severe dengue had on herself and her family, their disbelief at what happened and the joy they experienced as she slowly began to recover from her symptoms of dengue. Today, Natacha emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle whilst being vigilant about dengue prevention measures.

This video features real individuals sharing their experiences with dengue. The video reflects a patient’s specific experience and is not intended to represent those of a typical patient. Given the nature of dengue, symptoms and experiences will vary.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/hcp/clinical-signs/ Accessed November 2024.