From the Research
The fever pattern of dengue fever typically begins with a sudden high-grade fever that lasts for a mean duration of 5.1 days, often called the "acute febrile phase" 1. This initial fever is usually continuous and may be accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. Some key characteristics of the fever pattern include:
- A sudden onset of high-grade fever
- A mean duration of fever of 5.1 days, with a range of 2-7 days
- A possible temporary remission of fever for a few hours to a day (defervescence), followed by a second fever spike, creating a "saddleback" or biphasic fever pattern
- The biphasic pattern is significant because the period of defervescence, rather than indicating recovery, actually signals the need for careful monitoring as it often precedes the critical phase of illness. The fever pattern reflects the underlying pathophysiology of dengue infection, with the initial fever corresponding to viremia and the second phase related to immunological responses and potential complications 2. It's worth noting that the duration of fever can vary depending on the severity of the disease and the presence of complications, with longer durations of fever seen in those with higher grades of fever, higher disease severity, and concurrent bacterial infections 1. Overall, understanding the fever pattern of dengue fever is crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and management of the disease.