Two Cases of Dengue Fever after a Family Trip to Thailand

Abstract

Dengue is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions and the incidence is increasing worldwide. Whereas, the number of Japanese tourists travelling abroad is growing, particularly in young people. Here we report two cases of dengue fever in a family that were on a trip to Thailand. A 43-year-old male and his 16-year-old son were admitted to our hospital with sudden fever, followed by a rash and was later diagnosed as dengue after returning to Japan. His wife however, had no symptoms even though she was also bitten by mosquitoes in the jungle. This family was unaware of endemic diseases. The incidence of dengue has been increasing in international travelers, particularly in travelers in groups and in young people. Children have a higher risk of developing severe dengue in comparison to adults, and this is known to be a leading cause of morbidity and death in children. Therefore, it is important to routinely educate and publicize accurate knowledge about dengue in order to minimize the risk of infection and to control global outbreaks.