Clinical and laboratory profile of dengue infection in children.

The present work is a prospective, observational, hospital based study on 100 sero positive cases of dengue infection, admitted to Dhaka Children Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period 2000 -2001. The patients were in the age group 8 months to 14 years with a mean age of 8.3 years. The serological tests were performed by rapid strip test. Primary dengue infection (only Ig M positive) was observed in 15% cases while rest 85% were secondary dengue infection (either Ig G or both Ig M and Ig G positive). Classical dengue fever (DF) was noted in 11% patients and 89% children presented with dengue hemorrhagic fever / dengue shock syndrome (DHF / DSS). Common clinical presentations were fever, headache, retro- orbital pain, arthralgia / bone pain, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding manifestations. Other presentations were tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, pleural effusion, ascites, thrombocytopenia and high hematocrit values. The incidences of tachycardia, hypotension, hepatomegaly, high hematocrit and thrombocytopenia were significantly higher in DHF / DSS cases. The tourniquet test was positive in significantly higher percentage of DF cases. The tourniquet test and thrombocytopenia did not correlate well with other bleeding manifestations suggesting alternate pathogenesis for bleeding. In an epidemic setting, if a child presents with fever, vomiting, musculoskeletal pain and bleeding along with hepatomegaly, low platelet count and high hematocrit, a strong possibility of DHF/ DSS should be kept.