Abstract
Background: Dengue is one of the most common and potentially fatal infections in tropical and subtropical countries. Our study aims to compare serum electrolytes between dengue cases and non-dengue fever cases presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
 Methods: This case control study was conducted in a tertiary health care hospital between October 2017 to December 2018. Cases were considered as serologically confirmed cases of dengue and controls were those with fever cases other than dengue. All the study participants were selected by convenient sampling. The study included 54 dengue cases and 50 non-dengue controls. Sodium, Potassium electrolytes were considered outcome variables.
 Results and Discussion: The sodium level in dengue and non-dengue groups were in the level of 134.7-139 and 136-140, respectively. The potassium level in dengue and non-dengue groups were 3.6 - 4.3 and 3.6 - 4.65, respectively. In dengue group, 41(75.9%) patients had normal sodium level, and 13(24.1%) had a low level of sodium whereas, in the non-dengue group, 48(96%) had normal sodium level and 2(4%) had a low level of sodium. In dengue group, 47(87%) patients had normal potassium level, and 7(13%) had a low level of potassium whereas, in the non-dengue group, 43(86%) had normal potassium level and 7(14%) had a low level of potassium. 
 Conclusions: Dengue increases the risk of electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia and hypokalemia. They may be associated with poor treatment outcomes. Routine screening of dengue patients for electrolytes may help the clinicians in risk stratification of patients.
 Keywords: Dengue infection, Hyponatremia, Hypokalemia, Routine screening
Highlights
Dengue is a mosquito-borne arboviral infection transmitted by infected Aedes mosquito.[1]
Our study aims to compare serum electrolytes between dengue cases and non-dengue fever cases presenting to a tertiary care hospital
Dengue increases the risk of electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia and hypokalemia
Summary
Dengue is a mosquito-borne arboviral infection transmitted by infected Aedes mosquito.[1]. Our study aims to compare serum electrolytes between dengue cases and non-dengue fever cases presenting to a tertiary care hospital. The study included 54 dengue cases and 50 non-dengue controls. 41(75.9%) patients had normal sodium level, and 13(24.1%) had a low level of sodium whereas, in the non-dengue group, 48(96%) had normal sodium level and 2(4%) had a low level of sodium. 47(87%) patients had normal potassium level, and 7(13%) had a low level of potassium whereas, in the non-dengue group, 43(86%) had normal potassium level and 7(14%) had a low level of potassium. Conclusions: Dengue increases the risk of electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia and hypokalemia. They may be associated with poor treatment outcomes.
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