National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  National Institutes of Health
NIAID Home Health & Science Research Funding Research News & Events Labs at NIAID About NIAID

Health & Science
 Health & Science Topics
 Publications
 Clinical Studies


Dengue Fever
 Index
 Overview
 Cause
 Transmission
 Symptoms
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Prevention
 Complications
 Research
 Related Links
 News Releases

Dengue Fever

Symptoms

Symptoms of typical uncomplicated (classic) dengue usually start with fever within 4 to 7 days after you have been bitten by an infected mosquito and include

  • High fever, up to 105ºF
  • Severe headache
  • Retro-orbital (behind the eye) pain
  • Severe joint and muscle pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rash

The rash may appear over most of your body 3 to 4 days after the fever begins, and then subsides after 1 to 2 days. You may get a second rash a few days later.

Symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever include all of the symptoms of classic dengue plus

  • Marked damage to blood and lymph vessels
  • Bleeding from the nose, gums, or under the skin, causing purplish bruises

This form of dengue disease can cause death.

Symptoms of dengue shock syndrome--the most severe form of dengue disease--include all of the symptoms of classic dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, plus

  • Fluids leaking outside of blood vessels
  • Massive bleeding
  • Shock (very low blood pressure)

This form of the disease usually occurs in children (sometimes adults) experiencing their second dengue infection. It is sometimes fatal, especially in children and young adults.

back to top

previous link Transmission | Index | Diagnosis next link

See Also

NIAID Research on Viral Infections

Dengue and hemorrhagic fever: A potential threat to public health in the United States

Modified Skeeters Could Save People from Dengue Fever

Search in Health & Science
 
E-mail Icon E-mail this page
Print Icon Print this page

See Also

NIAID Research on Viral Infections

Dengue and hemorrhagic fever: A potential threat to public health in the United States

Modified Skeeters Could Save People from Dengue Fever