Dengue is a viral infection which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and has four serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4). The disease triggers a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild forms without warning signs to severe lifethreatening forms. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy, from the province of Callao, whose first symptoms were fever, headache and general malaise. On the third day, the child had mild abdominal pain and little vomiting; subsequently, abdominal distension, jaundice and choluria. He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit being alert and with moderate dehydration, jaundice, edema, distended and tender abdomen, shifting dullness and liver 2 cm below the right costal margin. Complementary tests revealed liver failure, hepatosplenomegaly and pleural effusion in the bases. Using a reactive IgM ELISA, severe dengue was diagnosed, as well as a ...