From the Guidelines
Symptoms of dengue fever typically include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash, as described in the most recent guidelines 1. The illness usually begins 4-10 days after infection and lasts for 2-7 days. Most people recover completely, but some may develop severe dengue, characterized by severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue, restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, and excessive thirst. These severe symptoms require immediate medical attention as they can be life-threatening. Dengue is caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. There is no specific medication for dengue fever, and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with rest, fluids, and pain relievers like acetaminophen (avoid aspirin and NSAIDs due to bleeding risk) 1. Some key points to consider in the diagnosis of dengue fever include:
- The use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for diagnosis, particularly in the early stages of the illness 1
- The importance of interpreting results in the context of clinical and epidemiological findings 1
- The need for prompt medical attention if symptoms worsen after the initial fever subsides 1 If you suspect dengue, especially in endemic areas or after travel to such regions, seek medical care promptly for proper diagnosis and monitoring. It is also important to note that dengue and Zika virus diagnostic testing should be performed on serum collected ≤7 days after symptom onset, and that IgM antibody testing can be used to identify additional infections, but interpreting the results can be complicated by cross-reactivity 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
- Fever 2, 3, 4, 5
- Headache 2
- Muscle and joint pains 2, 3, 4
- Characteristic skin rash similar to measles 2
- Hemorrhagic manifestations 6, 3, 5
- Thrombocytopenia 6, 5
- Hemoconcentration 6
- Myalgia 3
- Circulatory shock 3, 4
- Plasma leakages 5
- Hypovolemic shock 5
Severe Symptoms
- Bleeding 2, 6
- Thrombocytopenia and hemoconcentration 6
- Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) 2, 6, 3, 4, 5
- Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) 2, 6, 3, 4, 5
- Rising hematocrit 6
- Transformed lymphocytes on peripheral smear 6
- Increased transaminases 6
- Hyponatremia 6
- Transient increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine 6
- Dissemination intravascular coagulation 6
- Pleural-effusion 6
- Thickened gall bladder wall with hepatomegaly and ascitis 6
- Abnormality in electrocardiogram and echocardiogram 6