Warning Symptoms of Dengue

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease. It is caused by any one of the four dengue viruses that are spread by the bite of Aedes-aegypti mosquito, which thrives in and near human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito and when this infected mosquito bites another person then, the dengue virus enters that person's bloodstream.

When more than one type of dengue virus is circulated in a particular area then, either Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome arises. This is a more severe form of dengue fever which can cause severe bleeding, sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death. Dengue fever is also known as Break bone fever, as it produces intense pain in bones and joints.

Symptoms

Some people may experience no signs or symptoms during a mild case of dengue fever. The symptoms usually commence 4 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Signs and symptoms of dengue fever most commonly include:

• Sudden high fever, as high as 106 F (41 C).
• Intense headaches.
• Severe muscular, bone and joint pain.
• Pain behind the eyes.
• Widespread skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Rarely, minor bleeding from gums or nose.

Most of the patients recover within a week or so but in few cases, the symptoms may worsen and can become life-threatening. Few cases may give rise to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever where bleeding tendency may occur. Bleeding may occur under the skin, from the nose, gums or blood may be passed in stools.  In such cases, drop in the platelet (cells responsible for clotting of blood) count may occur leading to hemorrhages. With severe bleeding, shock may develop with low blood pressure, rapid or weak pulse with cold clammy skin and restlessness. Such cases with shock are labeled as Dengue Shock Syndrome.