What is dengue?
Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. A more serious version of the disease, called dengue hemorrhagic fever, causes bleeding and can be deadly.
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Dengue is most common in the tropics and subtropics, such as Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean
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You can get dengue if you're bitten by an infected mosquito
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Symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches
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You can get dengue more than one time
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If you're traveling to an area with dengue, you should take steps to prevent mosquito bites
What causes dengue?
Dengue is caused by the dengue virus. This virus is present in most tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It's most common in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. But a few people have gotten dengue in the southern United States and Hawaii.
When a mosquito bites an infected person, it picks up the virus and gives it to the next person it bites.
What are the symptoms of dengue?
For 2 to 3 days, you'll feel weak and tired and have:
After you have these symptoms, you may feel better for a day, and then the fever and rash may come back, this time on your chest, back, arms, and face.
In more severe cases, people may feel weak for several weeks, but it's rare to die from dengue fever.
What is dengue hemorrhagic fever?
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a much more severe type of dengue. It mainly affects children younger than 10 in areas where dengue is common.
If you have dengue hemorrhagic fever, you have dengue symptoms and also:
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Bleeding from your nose, mouth, rectum, and any puncture wounds
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Pain in your belly
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Throwing up blood
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Blood in your stool or in urine
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Purple spots on your skin from bleeding under your skin
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Very low blood pressure (shock)
Go to the hospital right away if you have symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
How can doctors tell if I have dengue?
How do doctors treat dengue?
How can I prevent dengue?
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
acetaminophen |
TYLENOL |
ibuprofen |
ADVIL, MOTRIN IB |
aspirin |
No US brand name |
