Dengue fever

Definition

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus. It leads to symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Dengue fever is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
2. There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
3. Severe cases can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which can be fatal without proper medical intervention.
4. The incubation period for dengue fever ranges from 4 to 10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
5. There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue; supportive care includes hydration and pain relief.

Review Questions

• What type of mosquito is primarily responsible for transmitting dengue fever?
• How many serotypes of the dengue virus exist?
• What are two potential severe complications associated with dengue fever?

Related terms

Aedes aegypti:

A species of mosquito that transmits diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF): A severe form of dengue characterized by bleeding, blood plasma leakage, and low platelet count.

Vector-borne disease: An illness caused by pathogens transmitted to humans through vectors like mosquitoes or ticks.