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. 2022 Jan;22(1):9-13.
doi: 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0791.

Dengue infection: Global importance, immunopathology and management

Senanayake Abeysinghe Kularatne  1 , Chamara Dalugama  2
Affiliations

Dengue infection: Global importance, immunopathology and management

Senanayake Abeysinghe Kularatne et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Dengue is an arboviral infection that is hyperendemic in tropical and subtropical climates. Clinical manifestations of dengue can range from asymptomatic infection to severe infection with multi-organ failure. Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a subcategory in dengue infection with a hallmark of plasma leak (ie critical phase). The plasma leak in DHF is selective (pleuroperitoneal spaces), transient and dynamic, and needs careful monitoring and meticulous fluid resuscitation. In addition, dengue fever may present with extended and unusual manifestations affecting any organ, including the heart, liver, kidney and brain. Studies on vaccine development and vector control are ongoing to prevent this infection of global importance. In this article, the clinicopathological features and management aspects of dengue are discussed.

Keywords: Aedes; Dengue haemorrhagic fever; NS1; critical phase; flavivirus; plasma leak.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Distribution of suspected or confirmed dengue cases during 2010-2016 in the world (Panacea Biotec. n.d.). Map created by Control of Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Aedes mosquitoes. Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD). (a) Aedes aegypti mosquito. (b) Aedes albopictus mosquito.
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
Natural course of dengue infection. Courtesy Comprehensive guidelines for prevention and control of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Revised and expanded edition. (SEARO Technical Publication Series No 60), 2011. DF, dengue fever; DHF, dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Fig 4.
Fig 4.
Symptoms of dengue fever. a) Generalised flushing of skin and lips. b) Morbilliform erythematous eruptions and islands of pallid areas.
Fig 5.
Fig 5.
Diagrammatic representation of plasma leak during the critical phase of dengue haemorrhagic fever.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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