9 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Dengue is a break-bone viral infection that can affect any age group. If the viral infection continues for more than 7 days and the symptoms worsen, then you might have DHF or DSS.

Highlights:

• Dengue fever is a break-bone fever affecting various parts of the body.
• Untreated dengue symptoms can lead to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).
• It is most common in tropical and subtropical regions, with 100-400 million infections occurring per year.
• 1 in 4 dengue infections are symptomatic; therefore, in case of any dengue signs, get yourself tested.

Dengue fever (breakbone fever) is a viral infection. It is not a contagious disease, but it spreads from mosquito bites to people. When an infected mosquito, Aedes aegypti, bites a healthy person, the virus transmits.

It is a deadly mosquito-borne disease with an annual infection rate of 100-400 million in tropical and subtropical regions. In case of infection, many people do not develop any symptoms. Whereas many others develop some common dengue fever symptoms such as high fever, body aches, rash, headaches, etc.

Many people recover from dengue at home in 1-2 weeks. On the other hand, some severe cases need to be taken care of in a hospital. In some severe cases, dengue fever can cause death.

This blog covers the most common 9 warning signs and symptoms of dengue fever that you need to know. Moreover, if you develop these warning signs, then consult the best doctor for dengue treatment.

9 Warning Signs of Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a fatal disease; therefore, we need to understand and identify the signs of dengue. If the normal symptoms of dengue fever persist and worsen, then it may cause Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). DHF and DSS need immediate medical assistance.

So, what are the 9 warning signs of dengue fever that we should know?

1. High and Persistent Fever

Dengue normally starts with a fever. But if the fever rises above 40°C (104°F), then it needs immediate medical attention. Moreover, the fever usually remains high and persists for longer periods. Normally, the temperature goes down after 5-7 days.

If you’re taking medicines and taking appropriate measures and the fever relapses, then seek medical assistance immediately.

2. Severe Pain in Joints and Muscles

One of the most common warning signs and symptoms of dengue fever is severe pain in the muscles and joints. It is known as break-bone fever because of the severe pain in the body. When the viral infection spreads to the muscles and joints, inflammation occurs, which causes unbearable pain.

The pain usually spreads all over the body and affects limbs, eyes, joints, muscles, the back, mouth, etc. You might feel like someone’s crushing your bones and whole body. In this scenario, don’t neglect the symptoms and consult a physician.

3. Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea followed by persistent vomiting is a warning sign of severe dengue. It affects the gut health and intestinal wall, which may cause blood vomiting. Some people also experience diarrhea and severe stomach ache.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you vomit 3 times in 24 hours, then it is a warning sign that shouldn’t be neglected. Due to frequent vomiting, you can lose fluids and face dehydration. Your health condition may worsen overnight; therefore, get immediate clinical support.

Moreover, if the situation persists, then it may cause DSS or DHD.

Useful Tip: Vomitings can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You can use Oresol Solution (ORS) water to fulfill the mineral and electrolyte needs of your body.

4. Skin Rashes

After 2-5 days of the onset of dengue, skin rashes may start to appear on the body. They are small, pink, or red spots with a distinctive look. They appear on the arms, face, legs, chest, or any other part of the body.

In certain severe conditions, they may spread across the whole body, leading to bruising and internal bleeding. These rashes don’t go away with antihistamines, which means you have to seek medical assistance to cure them.

5. Bleeding Gums, Nose, Stool, and Vomit

Due to the pathogenic infection, internal bleeding of vital organs may occur along with bruising. This indicated a low platelet count in the blood. You can experience mouth and nose bleeding, which can also lower the red blood cell (RBC) count in the blood.

Bleeding from the nose, gums, and under the skin is a worrying sign of dengue. This type of bleeding is known as mucosal bleeding and shows that the virus has affected the blood clotting ability of the cells.

Due to this pathogenic infection, internal bleeding can occur. Severe dengue fever can cause thrombocytopenia (reduction in platelet cell count). This can cause severe bleeding in the intestinal area, leading to the passage of blood with the stool and vomit. This can also cause ectodermal bruises.

Caution: Do not self-medicate. Always consult a professional healthcare provider and seek the doctor’s advice.

6. Intense Abdominal Pain

Intense abdominal pain, also known as “tummy pain”, is a red flag of severe dengue fever. It is often accompanied by tenderness, bloating, and spreading of pain in the whole abdominal area. This pain may persist with a reduced appetite.

Dengue infection can also affect some vital organs like the liver and gallbladder, which is also a dengue symptom in adults. When the virus affects the stomach and digestive organs, it causes sharp and intense pain. 

In this condition, do not take antibiotics or over-the-counter (OTC) medications but seek medical advice from an expert physician.

7. Sudden Drop in Platelet Count

One of the most critical indicators of severe dengue is a sudden drop in platelet count. Platelets play an important role in blood clotting and healing wounds.

In adults, the normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. The platelet count can be determined by blood tests. If the platelets decrease, then internal, gums, and nose bleeding along with other bleeding conditions, may occur.

In any dengue case, it is preferable to monitor the blood platelet count to prevent any sudden complications. In the sharp decline of platelets, medical intervention is necessary.

8. Extreme Tiredness and Fatigue

As the dengue virus penetrates the muscles, it causes inflammation, which results in body aches and joint pains. Due to all this, the person feels extreme tiredness, laziness, and fatigue. Sometimes the weakness becomes so intense that the person faces difficulty moving out of bed.

Unreasonable fatigue is also a warning sign of dengue fever to look for. In this case, reach out to the top general physician rather than neglecting or doing self-medication.

9. Breathing Difficulty

Difficulty in breathing is a severe warning sign. Dengue fever can cause the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This condition is known as pleural effusion. This can cause difficulty in breathing and cause even worse situations. It is a sign that the dengue situation has worsened and medical attention is required.

Takeaway

It is estimated that 1 in 4 dengue infections are symptomatic (show symptoms). Therefore, it is important to identify the potential symptoms and warning signs of dengue and get a dengue test done. Get an appropriate dengue fever treatment by consulting with an experienced healthcare professional. 

Moreover, you should take preventive measures for dengue prevention. You should cover your whole body with clothes and use mosquito repellent to keep yourself safe from the dengue virus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the Alarming Signs of Dengue?

Some of the alarming signs of dengue, which shouldn’t be ignored, are:

• Severe body, stomach, joints, and ocular pain
• Bleeding in the gums, stool, nose, and vomit
• Vomiting and Nausea
• Difficulty in Breathing