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Dengue fever is a viral infection, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. When a patient with dengue bleeds, then the fever is known as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). In rare cases, the patient having dengue may end with a rapid reduction in blood pressure or have problems in blood circulation, then it is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Symptoms of dengue fever are sudden high fever, headaches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, skin rash after two to five days of fever and mild bleeding (gum bleeding, nose bleeds).

Most dengue fever cases that are mild go away within one or two weeks without any special treatment except fever reducing medicines. However, if the disease gets severe or if the symptoms worsen after the fever goes away, it is important to take emergency medical care.

There is no specific treatment available for dengue fever. Since dengue is caused by viruses, antibiotics cannot be used against this illness. There are also no vaccines available for this disease. Medicines such as paracetamol are, however, given to reduce fever and joint pain. Maintaining adequate hydration too is a must.

Most of the dengue fever patients can be treated at home. Mild cases can be managed by taking plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids to stop dehydration and maintaining a nutritious diet. If the fever progresses into dengue haemorrhagic fever, contact the doctor immediately or take the patient to a nearby hospital, there is rash or blood in stool/urine or cough.