Dengue fever is a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The virus is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics which include areas such as Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Central American and southeast Asia to name a few. The illness is known for ravaging those who are unfortunate to contract this deadly disease. It can affect anyone regardless of race, age or gender but it is more of a risk for those with compromised immune systems.
There are 5 types of this virus therefore it is possible to get it multiple times. The most severe form of dengue fever is dengue hemorrhagic fever. It can further develop into a fatal condition known as Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Therefore it is paramount that you identify the disease during the early stages and seek proper treatment.
Here are 12 signs and symptoms of both mild and severe form of this deadly disease:
1. Sudden high fever
One of the first symptoms to arise in patients is a fever. The fever can reach 104 degrees and presents danger to elderly or children. The sudden onset of the fever will start a few days or weeks after infection and persist for 2 to 7 days. Having said that, there are cases where the virus does not cause a fever and some patients may suffer through the course of the infection without having a fever.
