[Emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in French Antilles. 3 initial fatal cases in Guadeloupe].
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.
Strobel
M
M
Service des Maladies infectieuses, CHU, Pointe à Pitre.
Jattiot
F
F
Boulard
F
F
Lamaury
I
I
Salin
J
J
Jarrige
B
B
Mazille
V
V
Vachon
F
F
Goursaud
R
R
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral