Dengue Fever (cont.)
What are the signs and symptoms of dengue?
After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from
three to 15 (usually five to eight) days before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear. Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes,
and low backache. Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs during
the first hours of illness. The temperature rises quickly as high as
104° F (40° C), with relative low heart rate (bradycardia) and low
blood pressure (hypotension). The eyes become reddened. A flushing or
pale pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands
(lymph nodes) in the neck and groin are often swollen.
Fever and other signs of dengue last for two to four days, followed by
rapid drop in temperature (defervescence) with profuse sweating. This
precedes a period with normal temperature and a sense of well-being
that lasts about a day. A second rapid rise in temperature follows. A
characteristic rash appears along with the fever and
spreads from the extremities to cover the entire body except the
face. The palms and soles may be bright red and swollen.
How is dengue fever treated?
Because dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration is important. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine may be given for severe headache and for the joint and muscle pain (myalgia).
Next: What is the outcome with typical dengue? »
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