Definition

• Dengue fever is caused by any of four closely related dengue viruses (dengue 1–4).
• Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, most commonly Aedes aegypti.
• All dengue viruses cause similar clinical syndromes.
  • Classic dengue fever
    • Sudden onset of high fever, severe myalgias, headache, retroorbital pain, nausea and vomiting, rash
  • In rare cases, a subsequent infection with a different serotype of dengue virus leads to:
    • Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)
    • Dengue shock syndrome (DSS)
• Dengue fever used to be called "break-bone fever" because it can entail excruciating joint and muscle pain.

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