[Dengue fever. Another infectious disease out of control?]

In the 1950s dengue fever left its home in South-East Asia. The result, as we see it 40 years later, is terrifying. From being an almost unknown infection, dengue fever is today's most common arboviral disease with up to 100 million cases annually. In addition, the clinical picture has changed from a benign influenza-like disorder (classic dengue fever) to a serious disease with bleeding and hypovolemic shock (dengue hemorrhagic fever). In this article the authors give an overview of the present epidemiology, prognosis and possible preventive measures against dengue fever.