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Dengue (DENG-gey) fever is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of
the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. A severe form of
dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood
pressure (shock) and death.

Millions of cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Dengue fever is most common in
Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands, but the disease has been increasing rapidly in Latin
America and the Caribbean.

Researchers are working on dengue fever vaccines. For now the best prevention is to reduce mosquito
habitat in areas where dengue fever is common.

Symptoms
Many people, especially children and teens, may experience no signs or symptoms during a mild case of
dengue fever. When symptoms do occur, they usually begin four to seven days after you are bitten by an
infected mosquito.

Dengue fever causes a high fever — 104 F degrees — and at least two of the following symptoms:

 Headache

 Muscle, bone and joint pain

 Nausea

 Vomiting

 Pain behind the eyes

 Swollen glands

 Rash

Most people recover within a week or so. In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-
threatening. Blood vessels often become damaged and leaky. And the number of clot-forming cells
(platelets) in your bloodstream drops. This can cause a severe form of dengue fever, called dengue
hemorrhagic fever, severe dengue or dengue shock syndrome.
Signs and symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever or severe dengue — a life-threatening emergency —
include:

 Severe abdominal pain

 Persistent vomiting

 Bleeding from your gums or nose

 Blood in your urine, stools or vomit

 Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising

 Difficult or rapid breathing

 Cold or clammy skin (shock)

 Fatigue

 Irritability or restlessness

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you've recently visited a region in which dengue fever is
known to occur and you develop emergency symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting,
difficulty breathing, or blood in your nose, gums, vomit or stools.

If you develop a fever and milder symptoms common to dengue fever, call your doctor.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

Causes
Dengue fever is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses spread by mosquitoes that thrive in
and near human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters
the mosquito. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person's
bloodstream.

After you've recovered from dengue fever, you have immunity to the type of virus that infected you — but
not to the other three dengue fever virus types. The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known
as dengue hemorrhagic fever, actually increases if you're infected a second, third or fourth time.

Risk factors
Factors that put you at greater risk of developing dengue fever or a more severe form of the disease
include:

 Living or traveling in tropical areas. Being in tropical and subtropical areas increases your risk of
exposure to the virus that causes dengue fever. Especially high-risk areas are Southeast Asia, the
western Pacific islands, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Prior infection with a dengue fever virus. Previous infection with a dengue fever virus increases
your risk of having severe symptoms if you're infected again.

Complications
If severe, dengue fever can damage the lungs, liver or heart. Blood pressure can drop to dangerous
levels, causing shock and, in some cases, death.

Prevention
One dengue fever vaccine, Dengvaxia, is currently approved for use in those ages 9 to 45 who live in
areas with a high incidence of dengue fever. The vaccine is given in three doses over the course of 12
months. Dengvaxia prevents dengue infections slightly more than half the time.

The vaccine is approved only for older children because younger vaccinated children appear to be at
increased risk of severe dengue fever and hospitalization two years after receiving the vaccine.

The World Health Organization stresses that the vaccine is not an effective tool, on its own, to reduce
dengue fever in areas where the illness is common. Controlling the mosquito population and human
exposure is still the most critical part of prevention efforts.

So for now, if you're living or traveling in an area where dengue fever is known to be, the best way to
avoid dengue fever is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that carry the disease.

If you are living or traveling in tropical areas where dengue fever is common, these tips may help reduce
your risk of mosquito bites:

 Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing. The mosquitoes that carry the dengue viruses
are most active from dawn to dusk, but they can also bite at night.

 Wear protective clothing. When you go into mosquito-infested areas, wear a long-sleeved shirt,
long pants, socks and shoes.
 Use mosquito repellent. Permethrin can be applied to your clothing, shoes, camping gear and bed
netting. You can also buy clothing made with permethrin already in it. For your skin, use a repellent
containing at least a 10 percent concentration of DEET.

 Reduce mosquito habitat. The mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus typically live in and around
houses, breeding in standing water that can collect in such things as used automobile tires. You can
help lower mosquito populations by eliminating habitats where they lay their eggs. At least once a
week, empty and clean containers that hold standing water, such as planting containers, animal
dishes and flower vases. Keep standing water containers covered between cleanings.