The dengue fever and its complication: A scenario in a tertiary-level hospital of greater Kolkata

Abstract

Background: India experienced a massive outbreak of dengue fever in the 2012-2013 period and this outbreak shows significantly different distribution across India. It also envisaged the hidden weakness of prevention and control program of vector-borne diseases. Aim and Objective: This study was designed to characterize the clinical and demographical profiles of this outbreak in a tertiary-level hospital of greater Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A descriptive hospital-based observational study was conducted among diagnosed dengue fever patients admitted at a tertiary-level hospital during the dengue outbreak in the 2012-2013 period. The clinical, biochemical, and demographic data of those patients were collected and recorded in a planned structured format. Results: The data of a total 382 dengue patients were analyzed. Out of these 382 patients, 67.8% are males and 42.1% belongs to 20-40 years age group. The mean and median ages of the study group were 37.39 (±17.70) years and 35 years, respectively. The mean (±SD) duration of hospital staying was 4.9 (±1.90) days. Out of these patients, 19.4% had hemorrhagic rash throughout the body, 13.2% presented with hemorrhage, and 8.6% were comorbid with typhoid immunoglobulin M (IgM) positive. Clinical shock, peripheral edema, and pulmonary edema were documented in 6.3%, 2.6%, and 5.3% of the patients, respectively. Ultrasonography (USG) abdomen test revealed that 15% of the patients had thick-walled gallbladder, while 11.27% had ascites. Out of the 382 patients, 26.3% (101) presented with pleural effusion, and 10.5% patient's platelet count went below 35,000. The alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and lipase level were abnormally increased in 82.7%, 17.1%, 29.6% patients, respectively. Conclusion: Suburban as well as rural area's people, mainly the young males, were mostly affected in this outbreak. Enteric fever was found with comorbid infection among a few dengue patients. Some patients documented with deferent complications, which were managed by early diagnosis and supportive treatment.