Everything you need to

know about Dengue

fever
• Signs and symptoms

• Pictures

• Treatment

• Causes

• Diagnosis

• Prevention
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever,
is a mosquito-borne infection that can lead to a
severe flu-like illness. It is caused by four
different viruses and spread
by Aedes mosquitoes.

Symptoms range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms include dengue

shock syndrome (DSS) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). These
usually require hospitalization.

There are currently no vaccines. The best method of prevention is to avoid

mosquito bites. Treatment is possible if diagnosis occurs before the patient
develops DSS or DHF.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 400
millionTrusted Source people are infected each year.

Dengue fever is rare in the United States (U.S.), but around 100
casesTrusted Source are reported each year, mostly among people
traveling from outside the country. Outbreaks have occurredTrusted
Source in Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.

Fast facts on Dengue fever

• Dengue is transmitted by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes
albopictus, which are found throughout the world.
• Around 2.5 billion people, or 40 percent of the world’s population, live
in areas where there is a risk of dengue transmission.
• Dengue is endemic in at least 100 countries in Asia, the Pacific, the
Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean.
• Symptoms usually begin 4 to 7 days after the mosquito bite and
typically last 3 to 10 days.
• Effective treatment is possible if a clinical diagnosis is made early.

Signs and symptoms

 Mosquitoes spread dengue fever.
Share on Pinter est

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the disease.

Mild dengue fever

Symptoms can appear up to 7 days after being bitten by the mosquito that
carries the virus.

They include:

• aching muscles and joints

• body rash that can disappear and then reappear
• high fever
• intense headache
• pain behind the eyes
• vomiting and feeling nauseous
Symptoms usually disappear after a week, and mild dengue rarely involves
serious or fatal complications.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever

At first, symptoms of DHF may be mild, but they gradually worsen within a
few days. As well as mild dengue symptoms, there may be signs of internal
bleeding.

A person with Dengue hemorrhagic fever may experience:

• bleeding from the mouth, gums, or nose

• clammy skin
• damage to lymph and blood vessels
• internal bleeding, which can lead to black vomit and feces, or stools
• a lower number of platelets in the blood
• sensitive stomach
• small blood spots under the skin
• weak pulse

Without prompt treatment, DHF can be fatal.

Dengue shock syndrome

DSS is a severe form of dengue. It can be fatal.

Apart from symptoms of mild dengue fever, the person may experience:

• intense stomach pain

• disorientation
• sudden hypotension, or a fast drop in blood pressure
• heavy bleeding
 • regular vomiting
• blood vessels leaking fluid

Without treatment, this can result in death.

Pictures

VIEW GALLERY4
MEDICAL NEWS TODAY RESOURCE

Virus spread and climate change: A West

Nile virus case study
COVID-19 has made the entire world painfully aware of the terrible power
that viruses can wield. Learn how climate change impacts the spread of
other viruses, such as West Nile virus, in our feature article.
GO NOW

Treatment
Dengue is a virus, so there is no specific treatment or cure. However,
intervention can help, depending on how severe the disease is.

For milder forms, treatment includes:

Preventing dehydration: A high fever and vomiting can dehydrate the

body. The person should drink clean water, ideally bottled rather than tap
water. Rehydration salts can also help replace fluids and minerals.

Painkillers, such as Tylenol or paracetamol: These can help lower fever

and ease pain.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or

ibuprofen, are not advised, as they can increase the risk of internal
bleeding.

More severe forms of dengue fever may need:

• intravenous (IV) fluid supplementation, or drip, if the person cannot

take fluids by mouth
• blood transfusion, for patients with severe dehydration

Hospitalization will allow the individual to be properly monitored, in case

symptoms get worse.

Causes
There are four dengue viruses (DENV) that cause dengue fever. They are
all spread by a species of mosquito known as Aedes aegypti, and more
rarely by the Aedes albopictus mosquito.

The viruses jumped from monkeys to humans between 100 and 800 years
agoTrusted Source, according to the CDC, but dengue remained a minor
problem until the middle of the twentieth century.
Aedes aegypti originated in Africa, but nowadays it is found in tropical
areas around the world, especially in and around areas of human
population.

The virus is transmitted from an infected mosquito to a human. A mosquito

bites a person who is infected with the dengue virus, and the virus is
passed on when the mosquito bites someone else.

It is possible to have dengue fever more than once. A second infection

carries a higher risk of developing a harsher form.

High-risk areas

Dengue fever is most common in subtropical and tropical areas, such as

Central and South America, parts of Africa, parts of Asia, the Caribbean,
and the Pacific.

Most cases of dengue among U.S. citizens occur in Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Samoa, and Guam, where the virus is endemic.

High-risk regions are:

• Central and South America

• the Caribbean
• tropical Asia, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, and parts of China
• Northern Australia

Unlike malaria, dengue can happen in both urban areas and rural areas,
but research published in 2011 suggested that it is more common in rural
areas.

Knowledge is power. Get our free daily

newsletter.
Dig deeper into the health topics you care about most. Subscribe to our
facts-first newsletter today.
Enter your email
SIGN UP NOW
Your privacy is important to us

Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms of dengue fever are similar to some other
diseases, such as typhoid fever and malaria. This can sometimes delay an
accurate diagnosis.

The doctor will assess the symptoms and the person’s medical and travel
history, and they may order some blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Prevention
No vaccine can protect against dengue fever. Only avoiding mosquito bites
can prevent it.

Anyone who lives in or travels to an at-risk area can use a number of ways
to avoid being bitten.
 If you are spending time in a tropical region, use mosquito nets that are
Share on Pinter est

treated with insecticide.

Clothing: Reduce the amount of skin exposed by wearing long pants, long-
sleeved shirts, and socks, tucking pant legs into shoes or socks, and
wearing a hat.

Mosquito repellents: Use a repellent with at least 10 percent

concentration of diethyltoluamide (DEET), or a higher concentration for
longer lengths of exposure. Avoid using DEET on young children.

Mosquito traps and nets: Nets treated with insecticide are more effective,
otherwise the mosquito can bite through the net if the person is standing
next to it. The insecticide will kill mosquitoes and other insects, and it will
repel insects from entering the room.

Door and window screens: Structural barriers, such as screens or netting,

can keep mosquitos out.
Avoid scents: Heavily scented soaps and perfumes may attract
mosquitos.

Camping gear: Treat clothes, shoes, and camping gear with permethrin, or
purchase clothes that have been pretreated.

Timing: Try to avoid being outside at dawn, dusk, and early evening.

Stagnant water: The Aedes mosquito breeds in clean, stagnant water.

Checking for and removing stagnant water can help reduce the risk.

To reduce the risk of mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water:

• turn buckets and watering cans over and store them under shelter so
that water cannot accumulate
• remove excess water from plant pot plates
• scrub containers to remove mosquito eggs
• loosen soil from potted plants, to prevent puddles forming on the
surface
• make sure scupper drains are not blocked and do not place potted
plants and other objects over them
• use non-perforated gully traps, install anti-mosquito valves, and cover
any traps that are rarely used
• do not place receptacles under an air-conditioning unit
• change the water in flower vases every second day and scrub and
rinse the inside of the vase
• prevent leaves from blocking anything that may result in the
accumulation of puddles or stagnant water

When camping or picnicking, choose an area that is away from still water.