Clinical profile and outcome of dengue fever among children in tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Dengue viral infection is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the world with varied presentations, high morbidity, and high mortality patterns. To study the clinical profile and outcome of dengue fever in children. Methods: This analytical study was conducted in children less than 12 years of age with clinical features of dengue (any acute febrile illness with one of the following: myalgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, bleeding, altered sensorium, shock, or low platelet count) presented at Mahavir institute of medical sciences between February 2019 to January 2020 (12) months were included in the study. Children positive for IgM alone or both IgM and IgG were followed up for a clinical profile. Results: Seizures (9.5%), loose stools (8.5%), lymphadenopathy (15.2%), relative bradycardia (8.5%) were less common manifestations. Rashes were seen in 64.7% of children. Many children in this study were mildly anemic. Mean hemoglobin was slightly higher in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Mean Hb in DSS was 11.28 g%. It was 10.02, 10.1, and 10.45 in DF, DFB, DHF respectively. But it was statistically not significant (P=0.27). Conclusions: Seizure was significant in DSS cases. Any dengue child throwing convulsions should hence be promptly evaluated for an unrecognized shock. The bleeding in dengue is not purely due to thrombocytopenia. There is no role for prophylactic platelet transfusion.