Dengue encephalitis in French Guiana.
Thousands of cases of dengue fever (DF) and several cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever were recorded in French Guiana during the recent outbreak of dengue-2 virus (1991-1992) and in subsequent years. One case with clinical signs typical of classical DF with neurological complications is reported in this study. The neurological features (encephalitis) appeared during the acute phase, 2 days after the onset of fever. Dengue-2 virus was detected in both the cerebrospinal fluid and blood sample. This case was fatal. This first reported case of classical DF with encephalitis in French Guiana is a new demonstration of the potential neurovirulence of dengue viruses.
Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana.
D
D
Hommel
A
A
Talarmin
V
V
Deubel
J M
JM
Reynes
M T
MT
Drouet
J L
JL
Sarthou
A
A
Hulin
D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral