Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infectious disease characterized by a range of symptoms and clinical manifestations.
- Fever and petechial rash are common symptoms, often accompanied by myalgia, asthenia, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash similar to measles are typical, with severe cases potentially developing into dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.
- Dengue hemorrhagic fever often presents with fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, and various bleeding manifestations, including shock syndrome in some cases.
- Ocular manifestations such as subconjunctival, vitreous, and retinal hemorrhages, posterior uveitis, optic neuritis, and maculopathies can occur, leading to symptoms like blurred vision and floaters.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and hyponatremia are notably prominent in some outbreaks, especially among immunologically naïve adults.
- A significant proportion of patients with dengue fever experience abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms, with nausea and abdominal pain being the most frequent; these symptoms are more common in hospitalized patients.
- Additional symptoms reported during epidemics include dizziness, weakness, bleeding tendencies, and hair loss occurring post-recovery.
- Classical symptoms of dengue such as fever, headache, and myalgia are consistent, with digestive symptoms and hemorrhagic manifestations also prevalent; shock occurs in a substantial number of severe cases.
In conclusion, dengue fever presents with a wide array of symptoms, predominantly fever, rash, and muscle pain, but can also include significant gastrointestinal involvement and, in severe cases, hemorrhagic complications and shock. Ocular symptoms and post-recovery hair loss are less common but notable features of the disease.