Dengue Symptoms

Introduction 

Finding out the symptoms of Dengue earlier is significant as it helps in the faster treatment and prevents any further complications. The dengue fever early symptoms are commonly seen 4 to 10 days after an infected mosquito bite. The symptoms of Dengue in babies include a sudden high fever (up to 104°F), Irritability, rash, Vomiting or diarrhoea, along with other symptoms such as sleepiness, lack of energy, and reduced appetite. 

To identify the symptoms of Dengue, a medical professional can go through blood tests, like NS1 antigen detection, IgM and IgG antibody tests, and molecular tests (like PCR) to determine the presence of a virus or its components. But, finding out the Dengue symptoms in adults at home is also possible. 

A serum sample is used for dengue testing or to identify the dengue symptoms. Dengue fever is seen in above 100 countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, and they have the highest incidence in Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. Dengue fever have caused an estimated 20,000 to 36,000 deaths yearly. Thus, it is better to find out the symptoms of Dengue. 

Symptoms of Dengue 

There are many Dengue symptoms that help determine if a person is affected by Dengue. 

What are the symptoms of Dengue?  

The following are the common symptoms of Dengue fever.   

• A high fever - 104 F (40 C)
• Headache
• Bone, muscle or joint Pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Swollen glands
• Pain behind the eyes
• Rashes

Signs of Dengue Fever

Severe Dengue occurs when your blood vessels become damaged and leaky. The warning signs of severe dengue fever generally start on the first day or two after your fever goes away. These warning signs are life-threatening emergencies which can develop quickly. The warning signs of severe dengue fever might include : 

• Severe Stomach Pain
• Persistent Vomiting
• Blood in your Urine, Stools or Vomit
• Bleeding from your Gums or Nose
• Bleeding below the skin, which may appear like bruising.
• Difficulty in breathing or rapid breathing
• Irritability or restlessness
• Fatigue

What is Dengue?

Dengue refers to a mosquito-borne viral infection that could result in a flu-like illness, with symptoms like high fever, body aches, Headache, and rashes. Dengue is also called Dengue fever.

Types of Dengue 

There are four types of Dengue virus types: dengue-1, dengue-2, dengue-3, and dengue-4.

• Dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) is one of the serotypes of arthropod-borne viruses (arbovirus) that result in Dengue. 
• Dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) have the ability to result in the dengue hemorrhagic fever, that have been shown belonging to the Southeast (SE) Asian genotype.
• Dengue virus type 3 were isolated from patients in Brazil from 2002 through 2004. These isolates were assigned genotype 1, as per phylogenetic analyses. 
• Dengue virus type 4 is one among the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4) that causes dengue fever. It was first recognised in the Western Hemisphere in 1981.

Causes of Dengue

• Dengue virus is spread by a female Aedes mosquito, which generally bites an infected person in the morning to take a blood meal, and then it spreads the virus any time of the day. 
• Within 2-10 days, the mosquito becomes infected, and the virus spreads to other tissues and is released into saliva. 
• When the mosquito bites an uninfected person, the person becomes infected. The mosquito is generally infected for a lifetime.
• The dengue virus also spreads via blood or organ donation from an infected person.

Risk Factors of Dengue 

We have discussed the causes and symptoms of Dengue, so let's see the risk factors. There are some risk factors for Dengue fever, they include : 

1) Living or travelling in tropical areas 
Staying in tropical and subtropical regions increases your exposure to the virus that could cause dengue fever. The risk is high in places like Southeast Asia, Latin America,  the western Pacific islands, and Africa.

2) Previously affected by Dengue Fever
If you have had dengue fever in the past, then your risk of dengue fever is high.  This is because the dengue fever infection increases your risk of symptoms if you get dengue fever again.  

Treatment for Dengue Fever

There is no particular medicine to treat Dengue. So, some methods to manage the dengue symptoms will work out. The methods to manage the symptoms of Dengue  include : 

• Have rest as much as possible. 
• Take acetaminophen to manage fever and relieve Pain.
• Drink enough fluids to become hydrated. 
• Consult a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of Dengue. 
• Without hesitation, tell your medical provider about your travel.  

Foods to Eat in Dengue Fever

Eating some foods helps with fast recovery from Dengue. Here are the foods to be included during Dengue.  

Foods to Avoid during Dengue Fever

There are some foods which have to be avoided to prevent further complications. Here are those foods that have to be avoided during Dengue. 

Dengue Medications

Some medications help in dengue treatment for managing the symptoms; let's see them.  

These medications will only be provided by your Doctor; you must not take these tablets for Dengue without his/her prescriptions.  

Recovery Time for Dengue

• Dengue fever recovery generally takes 1-2 weeks, with symptoms usually reducing within a week, though a few cases might need very long recovery periods.  
• Initial Symptoms of Dengue generally appear between 3 and 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.  
• Fever Duration will be for about 6 days.  
• The recovery time for most people is within a week, but a few might take up to two weeks.  
• In the case of severe Dengue, the recovery time can take many weeks or even months.      
• After dengue recovery, a few individuals might experience fatigue for many weeks.   

How to Prevent Dengue Fever?

In general, one can prevent dengue fever by taking precautions like avoiding mosquito bites by using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding mosquito breeding grounds, particularly in standing water etc. Also, some things that have to be considered include : 

• Take extra precautions to prevent mosquito bites if you travel. 
• Get medical advice if you suspect you have dengue fever. 
• Though there is no vaccine to prevent initial dengue infection, a vaccine known as Dengvaxia could help prevent secondary infection in children aged 6 to 16 who have been diagnosed with the virus earlier and who have lived in regions where Dengue spread. 
• Be aware of dengue outbreaks in your area and medical advice provided by the medical staff.

How is Dengue Fever Diagnosed?

Dengue fever is diagnosed through blood tests that determine the virus or antibodies against it, using tests like NS1 antigen detection and serological tests (IgM and IgG).

Conclusion

There are many signs and symptoms of Dengue. The dengue fever first symptoms include a sudden high fever, heavy headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and a rash, that appears 4-10 days after an infected mosquito bite. The dengue fever first symptoms are typically diagnosed using blood tests that detect the virus or antibodies against it. 

The medicines and treatment methods to manage the symptoms help the dengue fever symptoms day by day. The mild dengue symptoms are usually manageable with rest, hydration, and acetaminophen to control fever and pain. 
As there is no direct dengue treatment, the medical professionals will provide medicines to manage the dengue fever symptoms.