dengue fever /deng″gē, den″gā/ [Sp, influenza; L, febris, fever] , an acute Flavivirus infection caused by one of four antigenically distinct serotypes, which determine the severity of infection. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito and occurs in tropic and subtropic regions. Also called Aden fever, bouquet fever, breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue, solar fever. See also Aedes, arbovirus, dengue hemorrhagic fever shock syndrome. ▪ OBSERVATIONS: The disease usually produces a triad of symptoms: fever; rash; and severe head, back, and muscle pain. Manifestations of dengue usually occur in two phases separated by a day of remission. In the first phase the patient experiences fever, extreme weakness, headache, sore throat, muscle pains, and edema of the hands and feet. The second phase is marked by a return of fever and by a bright-red scarlatiniform rash. Occasionally shock and hemorrhage occur, leading to fatality. ▪ INTERVENTIONS: Treatment is symptomatic. Analgesics may be given to relieve headache and other pains. ▪ PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS: Dengue is a self-limited illness, although recovery may require several weeks. Vaccines are in development.
