Last reviewed: 19 Dec 2020
Last updated: 05 Mar 2020
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- fever
- skin flushing/rash
- myalgia/arthralgia/headache
- haemorrhagic signs
- lethargy/restlessness
- hepatomegaly
- abdominal distension
- pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea, cough
- signs of circulatory collapse
Other diagnostic factors
- gastrointestinal symptoms
- upper respiratory tract symptoms
Risk factors
- residence in/travel from dengue-endemic region within the past 2 weeks
- children aged 1 to 5 years
- older age
- pregnancy
- presence of comorbidities
- exposure to infected blood products
- living with uncovered water container
- female sex
- obesity
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- FBC
- liver function tests (LFTs)
- serum albumin level
- serology
- reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
- non-structural protein 1 (NS1) detection
Investigations to consider
- coagulation studies
- chest x-ray
- abdominal ultrasound
Emerging tests
- reverse transcription-insulated isothermal polymerase chain reaction (RT-iiPCR)
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Senior Professor
Chair of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Peradeniya
Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
Disclosures
SAMK is an author of several references cited in this monograph.
Peer reviewers
Professor of Medicine
James Cook University
Cairns Base Hospital Clinical School
Cairns
Australia
Disclosures
JM declares that he has no competing interests.
Consultant
Infectious Diseases
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
MJ declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Medicine
Medical Director
Penn Global Medicine
Penn Center for Primary Care
PA
Disclosures
SG declares that he has no competing interests.
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer