English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dengue viral infections are among the most important mosquito- borne diseases of the Indian subcontinent and have become a major global public health concern. Spread of disease has led to increased recognition of atypical manifestations, apart from the classical clinical features of dengue infection. METHODOLOGY: This case study was conducted at the department of Pediatrics in collaboration with the Microbiology Department of Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Jalgaon District of Maharashtra in West India during the period of 2 years from July 2012 to June 2014. Clinically suspected and serologically confirmed cases of dengue fever were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical parameters were compared between the two groups of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. RESULTS: 247 patients clinically suspected and serologically confirmed cases of dengue infection were enrolled in the study. One sixty one (65%) patients were males and 86 (35%) were females. One seventy three (70%) patients had a classical dengue fever while 74 (30%) had dengue hemorrhagic fever. The most common symptoms were headache (212, 86%), skin rash (163, 66%), abdominal pain (131, 53%), vomiting (119, 48%), and hemorrhagic manifestations were present in 84 (34%) patients. Atypical manifestations were recorded. Notably, 9% of patients had neurological involvement and 5% had multi-organ failure. Overall mortality was 4.5%. CONCLUSION: Dengue infection poses a huge burden to the healthcare system; its spectrum ranges from mild self-limiting illness to severe fatal disease. It can have varied and multi-systemic manifestations which can go unrecognized. Deaths occurred in 55% (6/11) cases were associated with dengue neurological manifestations needs support to the clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for atypical manifestations in dengue endemic countries.