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Dengue Fever
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario on December 17, 2015
Sources
Mayo Clinic: "Dengue Fever."; CDC: "Dengue - Frequently Asked Questions."
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Video Transcript
MICHAEL SMITH: If you're packing
for a trip
somewhere nice and warm,
don't forget your bug spray.
That will help keep you
safe from dengue fever, a virus
spread by mosquitoes
in tropical and subtropical
areas of the world.
Once an infected mosquito bites someone, they can get a fever, headaches, and pain in the joints, muscles, bones, and behind the eyes. Some people get a rash and have nausea and vomiting.
It sounds awful, but most people recover in a week or so. But if the symptoms get worse and you don't see a doctor, it can become life threatening.
There is unfortunately no vaccine or cure for dengue fever, so if you think you have it, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take a pain reliever with acetaminophen. Don't take aspirin.
If you feel worse after the first 24 hours, make sure you get treatment. For WebMD, I'm Dr. Michael Smith.
Once an infected mosquito bites someone, they can get a fever, headaches, and pain in the joints, muscles, bones, and behind the eyes. Some people get a rash and have nausea and vomiting.
It sounds awful, but most people recover in a week or so. But if the symptoms get worse and you don't see a doctor, it can become life threatening.
There is unfortunately no vaccine or cure for dengue fever, so if you think you have it, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take a pain reliever with acetaminophen. Don't take aspirin.
If you feel worse after the first 24 hours, make sure you get treatment. For WebMD, I'm Dr. Michael Smith.