WHAT ARE THE SIGN OF DENGUE?

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by dengue virus which is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. It is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. There are four distinct serotypes, DENV-1,2,3 and 4. Each episode of infection induces a life-long protective immunity to the infected serotype but confers only partial and transient protection against other serotypes. More than 100 countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific suffer from dengue infection.

• Normally fever will occur on the third (3rd) to fourteenth (14th) day after being bitten by an infected mosquito, usually between 4 and 7 days
• Often it begins with a sudden high fever, severe headache, pain in the back of the eye as well as muscle ache and joint pain.
• This fever may reach a temperature of 40 - 41°C, and will usually last for 2 to 7 days. It can also cause convulsions in children below 6 years of age. It also associated with severe pain in the bones, muscles and joints. Dengue fever is also known as "breakbone fever".
• The rash will usually appear on the 3rd and 4th day after the onset of the fever.
• Vomiting and reduced appetite.