Read condition-specific symptoms and clinical context for Dengue virus. A mosquito-borne fever that is usually mild but can turn severe fast.
WHO describes dengue as a viral infection spread to people by infected Aedes mosquitoes, found in tropical and subtropical climates and mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. CDC states that about 1 in 4 infected people get sick, and about 1 in 20 of those who get sick develop severe dengue, which is a medical emergency.
WHO states symptoms usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last 2–7 days, and that most people recover in 1–2 weeks. CDC notes mild dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever.
Possible symptoms: High fever; Pain behind the eyes; Muscle, joint or bone pain; Severe headache; Nausea or vomiting; Rash.
CDC states a blood test is the only way to confirm dengue and that symptoms typically last 2–7 days. WHO notes there is no specific treatment and that care focuses on managing symptoms.
CDC describes warning signs that usually begin in the 24–48 hours after the fever has gone away and that indicate a higher risk of severe dengue. Severe dengue is a medical emergency.
Possible symptoms: Belly pain or tenderness; Vomiting at least 3 times in 24 hours; Bleeding from the nose or gums; Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool; Feeling extremely tired or restless.
CDC advises going immediately to a clinic or emergency room for any of these warning signs. Severe dengue can result in shock, internal bleeding and death, and can develop within a few hours.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.