title: [Imported dengue in two tertiary Italian hospitals: Use of rapid diagnostic tests].
abstract: Dengue fever is growing at a global level both as number of cases and as geographic area of endemicity. Italy is not in endemic area, but the competent vector Aedes albopictus is widespread in this country, so that the possibility of introduction of the infection cannot be ruled out. We retrospectively collected demographic, clinical, and laboratory data about consecutive cases diagnosed in Torino and Negrar-Verona in the period 2010-2015. One hundred thirteen cases of dengue were observed, with an increasing trend during years. The infection was imported mostly from south-east Asia, but the risk appears to be higher in Latin America. More than half of the patients were admitted to the hospital but only one case of severe dengue was observed. Many patients presented after the resolution of symptoms. Rapid diagnostic tests were done in the majority of patients and allowed a diagnosis both in the acute (NS1 antigen) and convalescent (IgMantibodies) phases of the disease. An early diagnosis is paramount to avoid the spreading of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Travel Medicine Unit, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy. guido.calleri@aslto2.piemonte.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calleri
authors.affiliation: Travel Medicine Unit, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Torta
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar-Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar-Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angheben
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Torino, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lipani
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Torino, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchini
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burdino
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghisetti
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramello
mesh_terms: D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel
keywords: Aedes albopictus; Dengue; Diagnosis; Europe; Hospital; Imported; Italy; Negrar; Rapid diagnostic test; Serology; Torino; Verona