Table 2.

Incubation Periods for Selected Infections Responsible for Fever in Children Who Have Returned from the Tropics

Incubation Period (days)	Infections
≤14	Dengue
	Malaria^*
	Yellow fever
	Chikungunya
	Typhoid fever^†
	Rickettsial infections^‡
	Leptospirosis^§
15 to 30	Malaria^*
	Typhoid fever^‡
	Leptospirosis^§
	Hepatitis A and E^\|
	Visceral leishmaniasis
	Acute schistosomiasis (Katayama fever)^¶
	Tuberculosis
>30	Malaria^*
	Hepatitis A and E^‖
	Acute schistosomiasis (Katayama fever)^¶
	Visceral leishmaniasis
	Tuberculosis

* Most Plasmodium falciparum infections have an incubation period of 7 to 30 days (average, ∼10 days); Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale may present late, months or even years (rarely) after infection.
† Average incubation period of typhoid is 14 days, but can vary from <7 to >21 days. Incubation periods of >30 days are quite rare.³
‡ Most rickettsial infections have incubation periods of <14 days.³
§ Leptospirosis has an average incubation period of 1 to 2 weeks; rarely, leptospirosis may present >14 days after infection.
‖ Hepatitis A and E have an incubation period of 2 to 6 weeks; jaundice is usually seen.
¶ Acute schistosomiasis typically presents >4 weeks after exposure to fresh water in the tropics.