Clinical Information

Dengue virus (DV) is a globally distributed flavivirus with 4 distinct serotypes (DV-1, -2, -3, -4) primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of over 100 countries. DV poses a significant worldwide public health threat with approximately 2.5 to 3 billion people residing in DV endemic areas, among whom 100 to 200 million individuals will be infected and approximately 30,000 patients will succumb to the disease annually.

Following dengue infection, the incubation period varies from 3 to 7 days. While some individuals remain asymptomatic, the majority will develop classic dengue fever. Symptomatic patients become acutely febrile and present with severe musculoskeletal pain, headache, retro-orbital pain, and a transient macular rash most often observed in children. Fever defervescence signals disease resolution in most individuals. However, children and young adults remain at increased risk for progression to dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, particularly during repeat infection with a new DV serotype.

Detection of DV nucleic acid in serum is a marker of acute infection with this virus. Importantly, the period of time that the virus can be detected in serum is brief and, therefore, molecular testing should be performed within the first week following onset of symptoms. After this time, serologic testing is the preferred method for diagnosis of DV infection.