How does dengue fever affect the brain?

Answer 1

Typically, it enters the blood stream via the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti), begins replicating in target organs, infects white blood cells and lympathic tissues and can affect every part of the body's system from the brain (encephalitis) to the body's nervous system.

Dengue fever is an acute viral illness characterized by:

Fever, often with sudden onset;

Severe headache, often described as retro-ocular;

Myalgias and arthralgias that can be very severe;

Nausea and vomiting;

A rash that may present at different stages of the illness, and whose appearance can be variable-it may be maculopapular, petechial, or erythematous. Patients may also report other symptoms, such as itching and aberrations in the sense of taste, particularly a metallic taste. In addition, there have been reports of severe depression after the acute phase of the illness.

Some cases may present with or develop encephalitic or encephalopathic signs and symptoms, such as:

Decreased level of consciousness-including lethargy, confusion, and coma;

Seizures;

Nuchal rigidity; and

Paresis.