Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.Dengue fever is an infection caused by dengue viruses, of which there are four different serotypes known to infect humans.
Signs and symptoms
The disease has a sudden onset and symptoms may include:
1. Fever, as high as 106 F (41 C)
2. fever for 3 to 7 days
3. intense headache and pain behind the eyes
4. muscle and joint pain
5. loss of appetite
6. vomiting and diarrhoea
7. skin rash
8. bleeding, usually from the nose or gums.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment available.
General recommendations include controlling fever and pain with paracetamol rather than aspirin (aspirin may promote bleeding), and increasing fluid intake. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor.
