Study of clinical manifestations of dengue cases in a tertiary care hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Symptomatic dengue virus infections can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, from mild febrile illness to a life-threatening shock syndrome or organ dysfunction. Objectives: To study the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of dengue cases, which is important for patient management and crucial for saving life. Material and Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted from July to December 2015, included suspected dengue cases aged 16 years and above admitted in the medical wards of the hospital. Detailed epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters recorded. Chi-square (χ2) test and descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS (17.0). Results: Of the total 114 patients, 64 (56.1%) males and 50 (43.8%) were females. Majority of the affected patients were in the age group of 31–40 years (6 (31.5%)). Commonest symptom and sign observed was fever in 103 (90.3%). Signs of quadrant/epigastric tenderness, tachycardia, flushing were observed in more than > 50% of the patients and bradycardia, right upper shifting dullness, evidence of pleural effusion, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, low urine output, cold extremities were observed in less than 30% of patients. The commonest complication was severe abdominal bloating (8 (7.0%)), major bleeding and hepatitis in 5 (4.3%) of the patients. Briefly, 13 (11.4%) required the ICU treatment. In total, 107 (93.8%) had thrombocytopenia, raised AST and ALT in 89 (78.0%), leucopania in 74 (64.9%), ascites in 71 (62.2%), gall bladder wall edema in 64 (56.1%), and hematocrit in 28 (24.5%) of the patients. Also, 92 (80.7%) patients were NS1 positive. Conclusion: Manifestations of dengue cases are acute and varied. Proper confirmation of diagnosis, early institution of therapy helps in dengue prevention and management.