Severe dengue

Also called Dengue haemorrhagic fever, Dengue shock syndrome, DHF

Notification class
Class 1 notifiable eventHealth care providers report it immediately on suspicion to the Medical Officer of Health at their parish health department, or to the National Surveillance Unit, within 24 hours of contact.
Category
Vector-borne diseases

Case definition

Dengue case with any of the following: shock or respiratory distress due to severe plasma leakage; severe bleeding; severe organ involvement

Specimen

Serum specimen in red top tube on ice.

Specimens such as heart, kidney, liver and spleen in a sterile container suspended in normal saline, if the patient dies.

Laboratory

National Public Health Lab

Timeline for investigation

48 hours

Source: National Surveillance Manual

How it’s monitored

The weekly bulletin lists it as severe dengue, among the Class 1 notifiable events.

The figures

The National Surveillance Unit publishes the latest figures every week.

For health professionals