title: [Emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in French Antilles. 3 initial fatal cases in Guadeloupe].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two outbreaks of dengue hemorrhagic fever occurred in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) in successive epidemics in 1994 and 1995. The first outbreak was caused by DEN-2 virus and the second by DEN-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven life-threatening infections (WHO grade 3/4) were identified. Three previously healthy adults (including two brothers) died. Autopsy reports (2 patients) disclosed hemorrhagic serous effusions, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and in one case a spontaneous spleen rupture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dengue fever is an emerging disease. Its severe hemorrhagic form tends to an uprising incidence and can no longer be considered a disease limited to children in Far-Eastern Asia. Fatalities may occur very suddenly and unexpectedly, even in optimal health care settings, in healthy adults living or travelling in endemic areas, notably the Caribbean.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies infectieuses, CHU, Pointe à Pitre.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jattiot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boulard
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lamaury
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jarrige
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazille
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vachon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goursaud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019430:Guadeloupe; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral