Fulminant dengue myocarditis masquerading as acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Dengue fever is manifested by a sudden onset of fever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever, with severe headache, myalgias http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myalgia, arthralgias http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthralgia and characteristic bright red petechia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petechia. The exact incidence and pathophysiological mechanism of dengue myocarditis remain obscure, but most of these cases are self-limiting. Fatal dengue myocarditis is a very rare complication of dengue fever. The non-specific symptoms and signs of dengue myocarditis make early diagnosis difficult. A 25-year-old Indian male, suffered from fulminant dengue myocarditis, presented to a our hospital with symptoms and electrocardiographic features mimicking acute myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed before the dengue serology results were available. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.