CUTANEOUS SIGNS OF DENGUE FEVER - 3 CASES

We report three cases of dengue with cutaneous signs that were observe d in three women returning from Asia (and that were confirmed by serol ogy). The exanthem has common characteristics: progressive appearance beginning on thewer limbs, macula-type elementary lesion associated wi th purpura, evolution in one single upward spread, confluent lesions w ith intervals of healthy skin, palmoplantar affection, disappearance o f the eruption in an average of ten days, association with conjunctivi tis in three cases, pharyngitis in two, epistaxis in two and haematuri a in one. The lesions spread to the trunk in one patient only and anot her patient had pruritus. None of the patients showed signs of a state of shock. According to WHO and, despite the existence of haemorrhages and of a purpura, the three cases reported here cannot be considered as being dengue haemorrhagic fever due to the absence of hemoconcentra tion. The two types of cutaneous signs observed during the fever are d escribed and their physiopathology is discussed.