European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever is a major public health problem with morbidity and mortality and the recent epidemic showed variable clinical presentations with unpredictable clinical progression and outcome. Increasing work is being done to identify a biomarker that may predict the various clinical phenotype or complications.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in the department of Pediatrics in a tertiary care hospital. Patients with clinically suspected dengue fever underwent dengue serology tests. Patients were followed till 48 hours post defervescence of fever or settling of any other ongoing concern. Data analysis was done using Windows SPSS software version 20 and P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 200 patients were enrolled in the study. Maximum number of cases (48%) was in the age group of 11 to 15 years. Commonest symptom was fever in 100% cases. NS1 antigen was positive in 96% cases. Severe dengue patients were significantly more in age group of 6 to 10 years (58.2%) Children with dengue with warning signs had significantly raised levels of SGOT, SGPT and CPK.
Conclusion: Biochemical markers may help to identify and appropriately manage the high risk children of dengue fever with warning signs thus reducing morbidity and mortality due to dengue fever.