DENGUE FEVER WITH ENCEPHALOPATHY IN AUSTRALIA

During an epidemic of dengue type 2 virus in the rural community of Ch arters Towers, North Queens land, Australia, in 1993, 210 cases presen ted to the local hospital with signs and symptoms of classic dengue fe ver. Two cases were noteworthy because of neurologic complications, wh ich included drowsiness, short term memory loss, agitation, and seizur e. The cases are presented in detail because they are the first cases of dengue-associated encephalopathy to be documented in Australia. An increasing number of cases of encephalopathy associated with classic d engue fever is being reported worldwide, but the etiology of this clin ical syndrome remains unknown.