DENGUE - A SPREADING VIRAL DISEASE

There are 4 serotypes of dengue virus, that are arboviruses, transmitt ed to human beings by mosquitoes genus Aedes. These viruses are well-s pread all over the tropical and subtropical areas. In addition to deng ue fever, dengue hemorragic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS ) have appeared in southeast Asia since 1953 and spread to the intertr opical area. Here we present, epidemiology, clinic, diagnosis of dengu e virus infection and we emphazise the hypothesis of the pathophysiolo gy of the disease. Virus, mosquitoes and host could play a role in the outbreak of DHF and DSS. Clinical manifestations can depend on immuno pathological mechanismes as suggested by the hypothesis of facilitatin g antibodies, in addition in dengue-infected patients, the activation of complement and the production of cytokines, like tumor necrosis fac tor alpha and interferon gamma were detected. In France, except in tro pical overseas departments and territories, dengue is a traveller dise ase, however the outbreaks outside the intertropical areas point out t he serious threat of dengue that stands at the frontiers of Europe.