Publication: Clinical Characteristics and Hematologic Profile of Children Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital with Dengue Virus Infection: A Cross-sectional Study
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS)
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: Dengue is an arboviral disease spread by mosquitoes, predominantly affecting tropical and subtropical regions. In Nepal, dengue cases have highest burden in the Bagmati region, including Kathmandu. Clinically, dengue manifests with asymptomatic to severe infection characterized by systemic symptoms. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics and hematologic profile of children admitted with dengue fever in a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Nepal APF Hospital, a tertiary care facility in Kathmandu, Nepal. Enumerative sampling was used to gather secondary data of 49 children under the age of 18 who were hospitalized with positive dengue tests (NS1 antigen or IgM antibody positive) between September 2022 and November 2024. Dengue was categorized as per the 2009 WHO classification. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis test was performed.
Results: Majority of the patients (77.5%) had dengue without warning signs, 20.41% had warning signs and only 2.04% had severe dengue. All the patients had fever when they first arrived. Headache (57.1%), Arthralgia/Myalgia (53.1%), Nausea and Vomiting (24.5%) and Cough (22.4%), were common clinical characteristics. Abdominal pain (p-value <0.05) and epistaxis (p-value <0.05) was significantly associated with severity of dengue infection. There was a sharp rise in incidence of dengue cases in the month of September. Majority of children admitted had Leukopenia (69.4%) and thrombocytopenia (57.1%). 83.7% of children were Non-Structural protein 1 (NS1) positive and 32.7% were IgM positive whereas none were IgG positive.
Conclusion: Fever is the most common sign of a dengue infection. Leucopenia and thrombocytopenia are the most prevalent test findings. Children are especially susceptible to dengue during the monsoon season. It is critical to be aware of these clinical and laboratory markers to diagnose and manage dengue
Description
Bharat Chand
Department of Paediatrics, Nepal APF Hospital, Chandragiri, Balambu, Kathmandu
Pushpa Chand Thakuri
Department of Child Health Nursing, Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, TU IOM, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Anil Shrestha
Department of Emergency, Nepal APF Hospital, Chandragiri, Balambu, Kathmandu
Drishti Poudel
Department of Paediatrics, Nepal APF Hospital, Chandragiri, Balambu, Kathmandu
Keywords
children, dengue virus infection, clinical characteristics, hematologic profile