Case Report: Management of Dengue Fever in the U.S.

Abstract

A patient diagnosed with dengue fever was recently treated at a hospital in California. This rare case raises the concern that dengue fever may become a larger threat in the future for the contiguous United States, which is not currently considered endemic for the disease. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of cases; therefore, dengue fever must be given greater consideration in the differential diagnosis, especially with a patient travel history to endemic parts of the world. This case report examines the management of a patient presenting with dengue fever and demonstrates that continued vigilance, prompt testing, and patient education can improve patient care and decrease disease prevalence in the future.