Imported dengue fever in Austria 1990-2005.

Dengue is the most important human viral disease transmitted by an arthropod vector. The steadily increasing numbers of tourists visiting endemic areas coupled with the present resurgence of dengue, raises the risk of exposure for large numbers of travelers and imported dengue cases are increasingly observed in non-endemic countries. We aimed to study the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in imported dengue at a City of Vienna hospital. Medical records of 93 patients (age: 17-68 years, 43f, 50m) with imported dengue in Vienna between 1990 and April 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Forty-eight (52%) were classified as confirmed and 45 (48%) as probable dengue, according to the CDC criteria. The patients acquired the infection in South East Asia (56%), the Indian subcontinent (18%), Africa (10%) and Oceania (3%). The most important symptoms were fever, headache, arthralgia and myalgia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, chills, extreme fatigue and dizziness. A rash was observed in 43%, and lymphadenopathy in 22%. Laboratory findings were thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and elevated hepatic enzymes. Eighteen patients showed hemorrhagic manifestations, and 7 fulfilled the criteria of dengue hemorrhagic fever; 1 of them had dengue shock syndrome. Case fatality rate was nil. Dengue has to be considered in all febrile travelers returning from endemic areas. Prompt diagnosis and symptomatic treatment is warranted and should prevent patients from unnecessary and potentially harmful diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.