Abstract
Classification of symptomatic dengue according to current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria is not straightforward. In this prospective study of dengue infection during an epidemic in India in 2004, we applied the WHO classification of dengue to assess its usefulness for our patients. The study included 145 clinically suspected cases of dengue infection of all ages. Dengue was confirmed by serological methods (IgM ELISA and HI test). WHO criteria were applied to classify dengue positive patients into Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between dengue patients with bleeding and those without bleeding. Out of the 50 serologically positive cases of dengue enrolled in the study, only 3 met the WHO criteria for DHF and 1 met the criteria for DSS; however, 21 (42%) cases had one or more bleeding manifestations. By using WHO criteria of DHF on Indian patients, all severe cases of dengue cannot be correctly classified. A new definition of DHF that considers geographic and age-related variations in laboratory and clinical parameters is urgently required.
Highlights
Dengue, in recent years, has become a worldwide public health concern
Mortality from the complications of dengue is as high as 20%, whereas if recognized early and managed properly, mortality is less than 1% [2]; it will be useful if certain symptoms, signs, and laboratory parameters associated with the development of complications are identified so that such cases would receive more attention
Paired sera could be collected from only 18 patients, while only a single sample was available from the rest of the patients during the acute phase of illness
Summary
Infection with one or more dengue viruses imperils an estimated 2.5 billion people living in tropical and subtropical countries, mostly in cities [1]. It is endemic in more than 100 countries and the South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions are most seriously affected [2]. Classification of symptomatic dengue according to current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria is not straightforward. In this prospective study of dengue infection during an epidemic in India in 2004, we applied the WHO classification of dengue to assess its usefulness for our patients. A new definition of DHF that considers geographic and age-related variations in laboratory and clinical parameters is urgently required
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
