What is Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is an illness that causes a fever and other flu-like symptoms. It is caused by a virus that spreads to humans through a bite from an infected mosquito. Dengue fever cannot spread from person to person (is not contagious).
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the illness. This can cause dangerous complications if it is not diagnosed and treated right away. Very few people with dengue fever develop dengue hemorrhagic fever.
What are the causes?
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by four different viruses.
- These viruses are carried by mosquitoes that are primarily found in tropical areas.
- The viruses can pass to people who are bitten by an infected mosquito.
What increases the risk?
Almost all infections are in people who have traveled to parts of the world where mosquitoes carrying the virus are common. You may be at risk if you have been in:
- Mexico.
- The Caribbean.
- South America.
- Africa.
- Asia. This includes India, China, and Southeast Asia.
- Australia.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Signs and symptoms usually start 4–10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They usually last for 3–7 days. Symptoms of this condition include a sudden fever above 104°F (40°C) and at least two of the following:
- Chills.
- Severe headache.
- Pain behind the eyes.
- Bone pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Swollen glands.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Rash.
- Bruising easily and mild bleeding from the nose or gums.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever starts with symptoms that are similar to symptoms of dengue fever. First, a fever develops that usually lasts 3–7 days. After the fever lowers below 100°F (38°C), new signs and symptoms develop. These may include:
- Severe pain in the abdomen.
- Trouble breathing.
- Fatigue and restlessness.
- Low blood pressure.
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen and lungs.
- Bruising easily and bleeding from the nose and gums.
- Vomiting blood.
- Blood in urine or stool (feces).
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
- A physical exam.
- Your symptoms.
- Your travel history.
- Other
tests, including:
- Blood tests.
- Tourniquet test. This involves placing a blood pressure cuff around your arm for 5 minutes, then checking whether you have dark or red spots on your skin. Those spots can be a sign of the illness.
How is this treated?
There is no specific treatment for this condition. Your health care provider may recommend taking steps to relieve symptoms, such as:
- Taking certain pain relievers that contain acetaminophen.
- Getting plenty of rest.
- Staying hydrated.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever usually requires treatment in a hospital. Treatment may include:
- Receiving fluids through an IV tube.
- Receiving donated blood (transfusions).
Follow these instructions at home:
- Rest as told by your health care provider.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- Do nottake medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Ask your health care provider which pain relieving medicines are safe for you.
- Drink enough fluids to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Avoid mosquito bites.
- Take sponge baths to help cool your skin.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
How is this prevented?
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to help prevent mosquito bites.
- Do notleave standing water outside, because that is where mosquitoes often reproduce. If you find something that has been holding water for a long time, dump it out and wash it thoroughly.
- If you open your windows, make sure they have screens. If they do not have screens, keep them closed if possible.
Contact a health care provider if:
- The medicine recommended by your health care provider does not control your fever or other symptoms.
Get help right away if:
- You develop new symptoms after 3–7 days.
- Your skin becomes cold and clammy.
- You have red spots or patches on your skin.
- You become upset and confused.
- You have very severe pain in your abdomen.
- You cannot stop vomiting.
- You have blood in your vomit, urine, or feces.
- You have bleeding from your nose or gums that will not stop.
- You have trouble breathing.
- You cannot drink enough fluids and you start to urinate less often.
Summary
- Dengue fever is an illness that causes a fever and other flu-like symptoms. It is caused by a virus that spreads to humans through a bite from an infected mosquito. It is not contagious.
- Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the illness. It can cause dangerous complications if it is not diagnosed and treated right away.
- Symptoms of this condition include a sudden fever above 104°F (40°C) combined with two or more other symptoms, including chills, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bone pain, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain, rash, easy bruising, and mild bleeding from the nose or gums.
- Dengue hemorrhagic fever starts with symptoms that are similar to symptoms of dengue fever. Then, new signs or symptoms develop after the fever lowers below 100°F (38°C).
- There is no specific treatment for this condition. Your health care provider may recommend certain steps to relieve symptoms, including getting rest, taking pain relievers that contain acetaminophen, and staying hydrated.
