Signs and Symptoms of Dengue

Dengue is a mosquito-borne ailment caused by the dengue virus (DENV). It is mainly seen in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Some common symptoms of dengue are headache, fever, joint pain, nausea, and vomiting. Doctors may prescribe painkillers to reduce fever. Let’s learn about the symptoms of dengue in a detailed manner.

Symptoms

The symptoms usually begin four to 10 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito. Dengue fever causes a high fever — 104 F (40 C) — and any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Vomiting

• Severe headaches

• Pain behind the eyes

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Muscle, bone, or joint pain

• Swollen glands

• Rash

In most patients, symptoms of dengue will be mild and they recover within a week or so. However, in some cases, symptoms can worsen, if proper medication is not prescribed and it can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Severe dengue happens when your blood vessels become damaged and leaky. And the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your bloodstream drops. Warning signs of severe dengue fever — which is a life-threatening emergency — can develop quickly. The warning signs usually begin the first day or two after your fever goes away, and may include:

• Severe stomach pain

• Persistent vomiting

• Bleeding from your gums or nose

• Blood in your urine, stools or vomit

• Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising

• Difficult or rapid breathing

• Fatigue

• Irritability or restlessness

Those with weak immune systems have higher risks of dengue infection.