DENGUE. Break-bone Fever, Dandy Fever

Category: Infectious Diseases

This is an acute infectious
disease characterized by pains in the joints and muscles, fever, an
initial reddish swollen eruption and a terminal eruption of variable type.
It occurs in the tropical regions and the warmer portions of the temperate
zone. The disease appears in epidemics, rapidly attacking many persons.

Symptoms. Incubation lasts from three to five days without any special
symptoms. The onset is marked with chilly feelings, an active fever with
temperature gradually rising. There is severe pain in the muscles and in
the joints which become red and swollen. There is intense pain in the
eyeballs, head, back and extremities. Face looks flushed, eyes are sunken,
the skin looks flushed and mucous membrane looks red. This is the
beginning rash. The high fever falls quickly after three or four days,
sometimes with sweating, diarrhea or nose bleed. The patient feels stiff
and sore then, but comparatively well. A slight fever returns after two to
four days, although this sometimes remains absent. Pains and eruptions,
like scarlet fever or hives, appear. An attack usually lasts seven to
eight days. Convalescence is often long and slow, with stiffness and pain
in the joints and muscles and great weakness. A relapse may return within
two weeks.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Dengue. An anti-plague serum is sometimes used,
though with doubtful results. The pain is controlled by doses of morphine
of one-eighth to one-fourth of a grain every four or five hours. Hyoscin,
one hundredth of a grain, is also given for the pain. The high temperature
can be relieved by cold and tepid sponging. Tonics are given during the
convalescence and continued for some time.

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DENGUE. Break-bone Fever, Dandy Fever