Critical phase among patients with dengue fever during the 2010 outbreak in Nepal

Abstract

Dengue virus infection has become an increasingly serious threat to public health in Nepal. Detection and/or serotyping of dengue virus has been reported in the past; however, little is known about the critical phase among dengue patients in Nepal. Rapid immunochromatographic tests and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) were performed in order to diagnosis dengue fever. Ultrasonographic and chest radiography were used to identify the plasma leakage phase. Of the total 264 patients with dengue, 8.7% (23/264) were admitted during the critical phase; 82.6% (19/23) of the patients were between 20 and 44 years of age. Physicians need to be vigilant and attentive to young adult patients with dengue fever.