First Iranian imported case of dengue

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Public Health

Background:

• Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is prevalent in Southeast Asia with increasing adult incidence.
• No prior reports of dengue fever existed in Iran, suggesting a potential gap in surveillance.
• Global travel networks pose a risk for introducing infectious diseases to non-endemic areas.

Observation:

• A 58-year-old Iranian woman presented with acute fever, rash, and thrombocytopenia (99,000/mm³) after returning from Southeast Asia.
• Clinical presentation included hematuria, and laboratory tests confirmed dengue virus infection via IgM ELISA and RT-PCR.
• The patient exhibited leukopenia (WBC = 1600/mm³).

Findings:

• The patient was successfully treated with conservative management, showing improvement and becoming afebrile within three days of hospitalization.
• Discharge occurred on the fourth day with good general condition, and she remained afebrile during a two-week follow-up.
• This case represents the first documented occurrence of dengue fever in Iran.

Implications:

• Dengue fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness with rash in travelers returning from endemic regions.
• Increased global travel necessitates heightened awareness and diagnostic capabilities for emerging infectious diseases in non-endemic countries.
• Conservative treatment is effective for uncomplicated dengue fever cases, emphasizing supportive care.