Dengue fever is a tropical disease that is spread by mosquitoes. It is found throughout the world in tropical and subtropical regions, though it is more common in the African and Asian tropical regions, where it originated.
Dengue fever symptoms develop anywhere from two days to two weeks after the mosquito bite, but five to eight days is the norm.
Many people, especially young children and teenagers, develop no or mild symptoms of dengue fever. This is known as silent dengue fever. Much more common, however, is clinical dengue fever, the form of the disease that most people who get dengue fever develop. It is not always easy to recognize dengue fever symptoms, because they are similar to flu and several other illnesses.
The earliest symptom of clinical dengue fever is usually chills and headaches, with movement causing pain behind the eyes. Pain in the muscles and bones develops quickly, followed by a high fever (as high as 106 F). Sometimes the heart rate and blood pressure will drop. A rash may develop and the lymph glands in the neck and groin may swell.
After a few days, the fever will usually drop, before returning. Along with the fever, a rash develops covering most of the body and focusing on arms and legs. Dengue fever symptoms usually end after about a week
Rarely, dengue fever can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever.
When this happens, the symptoms worsen, and damage begins affecting the blood vessels. Bleeding from the mouth and nose may occur, as well as abdominal pain, vomiting and unexplained bruising.
Anyone who has recently visited an area where dengue fever is common should visit a doctor as soon as a fever develops. Recently the FDA has approved a blood test that identifies the presence of the dengue fever virus. However, this test may also respond to malaria and other tropical fevers.
