Dengue fever (patient information)
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What is Dengue fever?
What are the symptoms of Dengue fever?
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 - 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include:
- Headache (especially behind the eyes)
- Fatigue
- Joint aches
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Vomiting
What are the causes of Dengue fever?
Dengue fever is caused by one of four different but related viruses. It is spread by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes parts of:
- Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia
- South and Central America
- Southeast Asia
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers.
Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease that is caused by the same type of virus but has much more severe symptoms.
Who is at risk for Dengue fever?
How to know you have Dengue fever?
When to seek urgent medical care
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for Dengue fever
Directions to Hospitals Treating Dengue fever