Which disease sometimes resembles the pain of broken bones?

• A. Western equine encephalitis
• B. Yellow fever
• C. Dengue fever
• D. Malaria

Answer: (C)

Dengue fever is known for causing extremely painful muscle and joint pains, described by many patients as if their bones hurt or were breaking. This intense myalgia and arthralgia can be so severe that the illness earns the nickname “breakbone fever.” The inflammation from the body's response to the virus in the muscles and joints drives this distinctive pain pattern, which helps clinicians recognize dengue, especially in outbreaks.

Western equine encephalitis primarily affects the brain and nervous system, so symptoms tend to be neurological—fever with confusion, seizures, or altered mental status rather than severe bone pain. Yellow fever presents with fever, malaise, abdominal symptoms, and often jaundice and bleeding, not the characteristic bone pain. Malaria causes periodic fevers with chills and sweats, anemia, and organ enlargement, without the hallmark bone-breaking pain.

So the disease that sometimes resembles the pain of broken bones is dengue fever.