From the Guidelines
Dengue fever symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, mild bleeding, and in severe cases, severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, and fatigue.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
The symptoms of dengue fever can be divided into two categories: mild and severe. Mild symptoms include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Joint and muscle pain
- Rash
- Mild bleeding (such as nose bleeds or easy bruising) Severe symptoms include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Bleeding gums
- Fatigue
Treatment of Dengue Fever
Treatment for dengue fever is primarily supportive, as there is no specific antiviral medication for the disease 1. Patients should:
- Rest
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and pain at a dose of 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 3,000 mg daily
- Avoid aspirin and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, as they can increase bleeding risk Severe cases require hospitalization for IV fluids, blood pressure monitoring, and possibly blood transfusions.
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing for dengue fever includes molecular and serologic methods, such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and IgM antibody testing 1. Plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) can also be used to confirm the diagnosis and differentiate between dengue and Zika virus infections.
Prevention
Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Prevention measures include:
- Avoiding mosquito bites
- Using insecticides and mosquito nets
- Wearing protective clothing
- Eliminating standing water around homes to prevent mosquito breeding
Recovery
Recovery from dengue fever typically takes 1-2 weeks with proper care and rest. Patients should monitor for warning signs of severe dengue, including severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, and lethargy, which require immediate medical attention.
From the Research
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
- Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause severe, life-threatening disease 2
- The symptoms of dengue fever are not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but it is mentioned that the disease can result in severe, life-threatening complications such as bleeding, acidosis, and hepatic damage 3, 4
Treatment of Dengue Fever
- Currently, there is no effective vaccine or licensed antiviral for dengue fever, and management is primarily supportive with fluids 2
- Blood transfusions may be necessary in cases of severe bleeding or occult blood loss 3, 4
- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) is contraindicated due to the risk of bleeding, but some studies suggest that this contraindication may need to be reconsidered 5
- Transfusion of blood products has been shown to have no benefit and may even be harmful in patients with dengue fever 6
Management Strategies
- Clinical management strategies are aimed at mitigating deaths and reducing the severity of the disease 3
- The use of acetaminophen is recommended to manage pain and fever, but its use may be associated with hepatotoxicity 5
- Ibuprofen, an NSAID, may be a safer alternative to acetaminophen, but its use in dengue fever needs to be further studied 5