DENGUE

Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae.
albopictus) mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.

Dengue is common in more than 100 countries around the world.

Forty percent of the world’s population, about 3 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue.
Dengue is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk.

Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue. Approximately 100 million people get sick
from infection, and 22,000 die from severe dengue.

Dengue is caused by one of any of four related viruses: Dengue virus 1, 2, 3, and 4. For this reason, a
person can be infected with a dengue virus as many as four times in his or her lifetime.

Key Facts

 1 in 4: About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick.
 For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.
 Severe dengue can be life-threatening within a few hours and often requires hospitalization.

Symptoms

 Mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and
pains, or a rash.
 Graphic of human body showing most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the
following: eye pain, headache, muscle pain, rash, bone pain, nausea/vomiting, joint pain
 The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following:
1. Nausea, vomiting
2. Rash
3. Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain)
4. Any warning sign
5. Symptoms of dengue typically last 2–7 days. Most people will recover after about a week.

Treatment

 There is no specific medication to treat dengue.

 Treat the symptoms of dengue and see your healthcare provider.
 If you think you have dengue:
1. See a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. Tell him or
her about your travel.
2. Rest as much as possible.
3. Take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol outside of the United States) to control
fever and relieve pain.
4. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen!
5. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or drinks with added electrolytes to stay hydrated.
Severe dengue

 About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop severe dengue.
 Severe dengue is a more serious form of disease that can result in shock, internal
bleeding, and even death.
 You are more likely to develop severe dengue if you have had a dengue infection before.
 Infants and pregnant women are at increased risk for developing severe dengue.

Symptoms of severe dengue

Warning signs of severe dengue

 Watch for signs and symptoms of severe dengue. Warning signs generally begin in the
24–48 hours after your fever has gone away.
 If you or a family member develops any of the following symptoms, immediately go to a
local clinic or emergency room:
1. Stomach or belly pain, tenderness
2. Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
3. Bleeding from the nose or gums
4. Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool
5. Feeling tired, restless, or irritable
6. Treatment of severe dengue
7. If you develop any warning signs, see a healthcare provider or go to the
emergency room immediately.
8. Severe dengue is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical
attention or hospitalization.
9. If you are traveling, find health care abroad.