Ocular manifestations of Dengue-fever

Dengue-Fever is a mosquito transmitted viral disease. It is endemic mainly in South-East Asia and Afrika. The clinical manifestation is divided into d ifferent stages. Ocular manifestations in travellers have been rarely repor ted. Patients: We present the cases of two patients, having just returned from a trip to Thailand. During their trip they had fallen ill with symptoms of c lassic dengue-fever. Findings: On examination visual acuity had decreased in both patients. In o ne patient we detected a relative central scotoma in perimetry and reduced amplitudes in VEP. In indirect ophthalmoscopy we found intraretinal haemorr hages, foveal lesions in the pigment epithelium, cotton-wool spots and a ma culopathy. The fluorescein angiographic findings included extravasation in the macular region and block fluorescence. The diagnosis was confirmed by a rise in Dengue-fever antibody titre and the detection of flavivirus IgM an tibodies. Conclusion: Dengue-fever and its ocular manifestation in Europeans is a rar e condition. Expanding tourism to tropical countries may lead to an increas ing number of cases.