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Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Certain characteristics can be seen when one contracts dengue fever. One of them is flu like illness that affects all patients. In infants, fever seizure or a generalized convulsions caused by high body temperature (febrile illness) with rash may be present. In older children and adults, feverish facial flash is evident.

Classical symptoms of dengue fever are:

  • Sudden high fever (39-41.5°C) for 2 to 7 days
  • Headache
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Muscle pain, joint pain, bone pain (break-bone fever)
  • After 1 to 2 days of fever, the patient develops initial rash with discoloured spots, often described as “Isles of white in a sea of red”
  • Second rash may develop to palms and soles, and skin may peel off (desquamate) but body temperature drops
  

“Isles of white in a sea of red” [Compliment of Dr Asmahan]

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue. A second attack by the dengue virus of a different serotype from the first infection usually leads to this complication. Approximately 1% of patients with dengue infection progress to dengue haemorrhagic fever. The case fatality ratio is about 5 percent.

There are three phases of dengue haemorrhagic fever:

  1. The first is the febrile phase. This phase is defined by very high body temperature of 40-41°C, and obvious feverish facial flush, vomiting, abdominal pain or restlessness.
  2. The second is the plasma leakage phase. This phase starts at the end of the febrile phase, with the body temperature drops below 38°C. This phase lasts for 24 to 48 hours. This is also known as the critical phase.
  3. The third is the re-absorption or convalescent phase where plasma that leaks is reabsorbed. At this phase the patient may experience respiratory distress or difficulty in breathing.

 

 

References:

  1. WHO (2002). Guidelines for treatment of dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever in small hospitals. (http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Dengue_Guideline-dengue.pdf). Retrieved on 09/02/2008.
  2. WHO (2006). Dengue haemorrhagic fever: Early recognition, diagnosis and hospital management. (http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/dengue_fever/dengue.pdf). Retrieved on 09/02/2008.
  3. Webster New World Medical Dictionary (2003). 2nd Ed, Wiley Publishing Inc.
  4. Dr Asmahan Mohamed Ismail (2008). Selayang Hospital, Malaysia. Question and Answer.
  5. Ministry of Health, Malaysia (2004). Clinical practice guidelines: Management of dengue fever in children. December 2004. MOH/P/PAK/95.04.