Assessment and management of dengue

Abstract

### What you need to know Dengue (dengue fever, breakbone fever), an arboviral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitos, is endemic in more than 100 countries in the World Health Organisation (WHO) regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific.1 Although most patients are asymptomatic or recover after a febrile phase, 2-5% develop severe disease and may require intensive care.2 Mortality is 5% among severe dengue.2 Distribution of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4) varies geographically and over time.3 Previously limited to tropical regions, outbreaks now occur in subtropical and temperate regions, including high altitude areas (such as Kathmandu, Nepal).245 In North America and Europe, where dengue is a common cause of fever in travellers returning from endemic areas,67 autochthonous (locally acquired) cases have also been reported.8910 …