Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.
Most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash. Most will also get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.
In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.
You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites especially during the day.
Dengue is treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently.
Symptoms
Most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in 1–2 weeks. Rarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death.
If symptoms occur, they usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last for 2–7 days. Symptoms may include:
high fever (40°C/104°F)
severe headache
pain behind the eyes
muscle and joint pains
nausea
vomiting
swollen glands
rash.
Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue.
Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away:
severe abdominal pain
persistent vomiting
rapid breathing
bleeding gums or nose
fatigue
restlessness
blood in vomit or stool
being very thirsty
pale and cold skin
feeling weak.
People with these severe symptoms should get care right away.
After recovery, people who have had dengue may feel tired for several weeks.
Diagnostics and treatment
Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine. Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid getting dengue.
There is no specific treatment for dengue. The focus is on treating pain symptoms.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding.
There is a vaccine called Dengvaxia for people who have had dengue at least once and live in places where the disease is common.
For people with severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed
.
Global burden
The incidence of dengue has grown
Key facts
Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
About half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
While many DENV infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, DENV can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death.
Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control. There is no specific treatment for dengue/severe dengue, and early detection and access to proper medical care greatly lower fatality rates of severe dengue.
Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.
Most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash. Most will also get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.
In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.
You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites especially during the day.
Dengue is treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently.
Symptoms
Most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in 1–2 weeks. Rarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death.
If symptoms occur, they usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last for 2–7 days. Symptoms may include:
high fever (40°C/104°F)
severe headache
pain behind the eyes
muscle and joint pains
nausea
vomiting
swollen glands
rash.
Individuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue.
Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has gone away:
severe abdominal pain
persistent vomiting
rapid breathing
bleeding gums or nose
fatigue
restlessness
blood in vomit or stool
being very thirsty
pale and cold skin
feeling weak.
People with these severe symptoms should get care right away.
After recovery, people who have had dengue may feel tired for several weeks.
Diagnostics and treatment
Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine. Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid getting dengue.
There is no specific treatment for dengue. The focus is on treating pain symptoms.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding.
There is a vaccine called Dengvaxia for people who have had dengue at least once and live in places where the disease is common.
For people with severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed.
Global burden
The incidence of dengue has grown
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