Publication: Clinical and laboratory profile of dengue infection in children
Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
The present work is a prospective, observational, hospital based study on 100 sero positive cases of dengue
infection, admitted to Dhaka Children Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period 2000 –2001. The patients
were in the age group 8 months to 14 years with a mean age of 8.3 years. The serological tests were performed by
rapid strip test. Primary dengue infection (only Ig M positive) was observed in 15% cases while rest 85% were
secondary dengue infection (either Ig G or both Ig M and Ig G positive). Classical dengue fever (DF) was noted in
11% patients and 89% children presented with dengue hemorrhagic fever / dengue shock syndrome (DHF / DSS).
Common clinical presentations were fever, headache, retro- orbital pain, arthralgia / bone pain, vomiting, abdominal
pain and bleeding manifestations. Other presentations were tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, hepatomegaly,
splenomegaly, pleural effusion, ascites, thrombocytopenia and high hematocrit values. The incidences of
tachycardia, hypotension, hepatomegaly, high hematocrit and thrombocytopenia were significantly higher in DHF /
DSS cases. The tourniquet test was positive in significantly higher percentage of DF cases. The tourniquet test and
thrombocytopenia did not correlate well with other bleeding manifestations suggesting alternate pathogenesis for
bleeding. In an epidemic setting, if a child presents with fever, vomiting, musculoskeletal pain and bleeding along
with hepatomegaly, low platelet count and high hematocrit, a strong possibility of DHF/ DSS should be kept.
Key words: Dengue fever, DHF, DSS