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ABSTRACT: Dengue is a common, acute, and febrile illness caused by infection by the Dengue virus. This infection is present throughout the world, but the highest incidences are in sub-tropical and tropical areas. There are four serotypes of the dengue virus known as serotype 1, 2, 3, and 4. They produce a broad spectrum of symptoms that range from a light illness such as Dengue Fever to hemorrhagic Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome. It is transmitted among humans by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus.
Latin America has been affected by dengue since the last century. In Panama, 29,008 cases of dengue were reported in 2007 (up to epidemiological week #39), comprising 28,968 cases of Dengue Fever and 40 cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. The regions most affected are Panamá Oeste, Región Metropolitana, Chiriquí, and Colón. It affects more women than men, although the differences are not statistically significant. For all these reasons, Dengue is a serious public health problem in Panama.
