Don't forget dengue! Clinical features of dengue fever in returning travellers

Dengue virus infection is an increasingly important cause of imported fever, but many cases remain unrecognised. This study reviews the clinical features of dengue fever in patients seen at a regional department of infection and tropical medicine.

All patients with dengue fever presenting to the Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine in Leicester over a three year period.

The diagnosis of dengue fever was confirmed in 15 patients. The age range of patients was 19-61 years, and 80% were immigrants returning from a visit to their country of origin. In 11 (73%) patients, infection was associated with travel to India; others had gone to South-east Asia, Barbados and Uganda. All patients presented within three weeks of their return to the United Kingdom. The clinical manifestations of infection were often non-specific. They included fever, nausea, headache, cough and diarrhoea; 5 (33%) patients had a macular rash. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 7 (47%) patients, but only one had evidence of dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue infection was confirmed by serology in 14 (93%) patients. In one, dengue virus type 1 was identified by polymerase chain reaction, and the virus was subsequently isolated in tissue culture.

Dengue virus infection should be considered in all febrile travellers who have recently returned from areas where the disease is endemic and in whom tests for malaria are negative.