Clinical profile, laboratory investigations and outcome in dengue positive children in south India

Abstract

Dengue fever is one of the most commonly occurring mosquito borne-viral illnesses that has a wide range of presentation in children and is common during the monsoon season. The severity of illness ranges from mild undifferentiated fever, dengue with warning signs, severe dengue fever and dengue fever with organ dysfunction. The symptoms of dengue may be easily mistaken for those of flu or other viral infections. Contrary to other fevers, complications in dengue occur during the phase of defervescence and can be life threatening in children due to shock or profuse hemorrhage. 55 dengue positive children who were diagnosed by dengue antigen detection or dengue antibody positive were included in the study. Most of children were above 10 years and the commonest presenting symptoms were fever, headache, body pain, nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain and vomiting. Most of the children presented with two or more warning signs like persistent vomiting, thrombocytopenia, increasing hematocrit and hepatomegaly. Few children developed features of early shock, which was diagnosed early and treated effectively. All the children responded well to treatment measures and recovered well during hospital stay. Having a high of suspicion and careful monitoring of children is crucial for reducing occurrence of complications and death due to this severe infection.