title: Evaluation of the use of RT-PCR for the early diagnosis of dengue fever.
abstract: RT-PCR was used to diagnose dengue virus infections confirmed serologically in 26 returning travellers. RT-PCR was positive for three (75%) of four samples taken on or before day 3 of the illness, for 15 (78.9%) of 19 samples taken between days 4 and 7, and for none of three samples tested on or after day 8 (p 0.0337). When applied early, RT-PCR seems to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of dengue fever.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Charité/Campus Virchow Hospital, Humboldt University, Germany. grobuschmp@pathology.wits.ac.za
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedrig
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Göbels
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klipstein-Grobusch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teichmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral