Informing Doctors to Better Understand Tropical Diseases in Returned Travellers

Understanding Dengue
Including Severe Dengue

Recognise and manage appropriately cases of Severe Dengue as separate from simple Dengue (Primary Dengue.) This course distills the knowledge gained from personally working in the field in Southeast Asia as well as studying hundreds of papers and articles.

• Dengue Useful Links
• References by slide
• WHO Warning Signs and Patient Handout

The main goal of the course is to increase the chance doctors will not miss the warning and critical signs that may lead to poor patient outcomes. More effective pretravel advice by doctors regarding Dengue for travellers especially to Southeast Asia is a secondary benefit.

Please note also that this course is not formally accredited.

We have local experience in South-East Asia in these areas as well as a history of residence in South-East Asia. So it seemed a next step to construct a course on most aspects of dengue fever.

From a low base in the past, recent years Australia has now 1000-2000 notified cases of dengue fever per year and likely at least ¾ more of asymptomatic cases.

Annual visitor numbers from Australia have risen to more than 1 million from Australia to Bali and ½ Million to Thailand. Dengue has become a rather common disease in tropical countries in South East Asia - especially in the wet or Monsoon season. A small percentage with secondary dengue infections (there are 4 strains) will be at risk of severe dengue - a disease that has been in recent times very rare in Australia.

Early recognition & management in General Practice is vital as is appropriate referral and management in hospital.