Backpacking in Nicaragua - Dengue Fever
August 13, 2022 | Tagged: Nicaragua
I spent my first 3 nights in Nicaragua in Jiquilillo. Me and an English chap from the boat, secured a cabaña right on the beach at the Hotel Jiquilillo Beach and somewhere in the proceedings I was bitten by a mosquito and ended up with Dengue Fever.
Beach side cabaña at the Hotel Jiquilillo Beach:
It was nice and quiet. Perfect for a good night's sleep, though on the 2nd night an earthquake, 50km out in the ocean, woke me up.
We'd get breakfast and dinner at Lupita's Bar. There wasn't much choice.
It was probably here that I got bitten by a mosquito infected with Dengue.
We'd get breakfast and dinner at Lupita's Bar. There wasn't much choice.
It was probably here that I got bitten by a mosquito infected with Dengue.
Beyond the beauty of a Nicaraguan sunset at Jiquilillo lurks the danger of getting bitten by 'dengue mosquitoes':
Dengue Fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus and is spread by the female mosquito.
Symptoms include: high temperature, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint pain, loss of appetite and a rash.
Dengue Fever is also known as Breakbone Fever for obvious reasons.
***
On the 3rd day, I made my way to León, alone. My buddy having gone the day before.
I checked into the Poco a Poco Hostel in León.
The next morning I noticed my back was aching. Nothing new there. The years on the road are taking their toll.
On the Sunday night, I had to cut short my call with Miss CDMX
Something wasn't right.
The night was terrible.
The room was like a sauna. The temperature in León was 35 deg C feels like 39.
I was thinking I'd got heat stroke.
The kind staff at the hostel organised for a doctor to come and visit.
One of the owners from Belgium had had dengue. There was a lot of it around. For 3 days, she could even get out of bed.
I think hoteliers should be informing travellers of the possibilities as a matter of course, when there are a lot of cases being reported.
The doctor came. Asked the normal questions, took my blood pressure and sent me to get tested.
After the test, I picked up some meds:
Symptoms include: high temperature, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint pain, loss of appetite and a rash.
Dengue Fever is also known as Breakbone Fever for obvious reasons.
***
On the 3rd day, I made my way to León, alone. My buddy having gone the day before.
I checked into the Poco a Poco Hostel in León.
The next morning I noticed my back was aching. Nothing new there. The years on the road are taking their toll.
On the Sunday night, I had to cut short my call with Miss CDMX
Something wasn't right.
The night was terrible.
The room was like a sauna. The temperature in León was 35 deg C feels like 39.
I was thinking I'd got heat stroke.
The kind staff at the hostel organised for a doctor to come and visit.
One of the owners from Belgium had had dengue. There was a lot of it around. For 3 days, she could even get out of bed.
I think hoteliers should be informing travellers of the possibilities as a matter of course, when there are a lot of cases being reported.
The doctor came. Asked the normal questions, took my blood pressure and sent me to get tested.
After the test, I picked up some meds:
At 2 pm, I checked the results online:
I sent the results to the doctor.
He suggested 3 days in a clinic for observation at 200 USD a night (of course he did).
He had also told that to the Belgium girl.
She just stayed in bed.
I knew there was no cure. You rested, you kept hydrated and tried to keep cool.
My forehead was boiling. I checked my temperature. I'd feel hot and my temperature was 38-39 deg C. Then my forehead would feel okay and my temperature was down at 36.
I got some rehydration powder:
He suggested 3 days in a clinic for observation at 200 USD a night (of course he did).
He had also told that to the Belgium girl.
She just stayed in bed.
I knew there was no cure. You rested, you kept hydrated and tried to keep cool.
My forehead was boiling. I checked my temperature. I'd feel hot and my temperature was 38-39 deg C. Then my forehead would feel okay and my temperature was down at 36.
I got some rehydration powder:
For 3 days it did this. I wasn't completely out of it. I'd walk to the store and cook myself some food. Not that I had any appetite but I ate as best as I could.
The forth day was the worst, baring in mind that the doc wanted me to be in a clinic for 3 days.
My temperature was up most of the day. My joints ached like never before, like I'd been run over by a truck.
The room was hotter than ever.
And most inmates at the hostel were just intent on having rowdy fun.
I should have gotten a single room. I should have avoided the most popular hostel in town.
I stayed out of a sense of loyalty. The staff spoken excellent English and were looking out for me.
By the Friday I had mostly recovered. My temperature stayed low all day. The headache was gone. The aching joints were gone. But I was weak. I still had no appetite.
Saturday was better. Sunday I felt pretty much OK. On the Monday I took the bus to Esteli, which is where I am now, resting and eating well enjoying the cooler conditions found at 800m asl.
If you have found this post useful, you can show your appreciation by buying me a coffee.
This post is the property of Nomadic Backpacker
The forth day was the worst, baring in mind that the doc wanted me to be in a clinic for 3 days.
My temperature was up most of the day. My joints ached like never before, like I'd been run over by a truck.
The room was hotter than ever.
And most inmates at the hostel were just intent on having rowdy fun.
I should have gotten a single room. I should have avoided the most popular hostel in town.
I stayed out of a sense of loyalty. The staff spoken excellent English and were looking out for me.
By the Friday I had mostly recovered. My temperature stayed low all day. The headache was gone. The aching joints were gone. But I was weak. I still had no appetite.
Saturday was better. Sunday I felt pretty much OK. On the Monday I took the bus to Esteli, which is where I am now, resting and eating well enjoying the cooler conditions found at 800m asl.
If you have found this post useful, you can show your appreciation by buying me a coffee.
This post is the property of Nomadic Backpacker
