Congenital Dengue Infection during the Epidemic in Argentina in the 2023-2024 Period: A Multicenter Registry.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical, laboratory, and follow-up characteristics of neonates with confirmed dengue infection.

STUDY

DESIGN

Observational, descriptive, retrospective, and multicenter study including neonates with confirmed congenital dengue hospitalized at six centers from Argentina, between July 2023 and July 2024. Confirmation required virological or serological testing in both mother and neonate. Data were collected anonymously via REDCap and analyzed with RStudio.

RESULTS

A total of 58 neonates were included. Most pregnant individuals presented with fever, myalgia, and headache. Maternal diagnosis was confirmed mainly by NS1 antigen (59%) and PCR (43%); 9% were serotyped, with ⅘ serotypes corresponding to DENV1. In all 52 pregnant individuals were hospitalized. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks, and 21% of neonates were preterm. Most deliveries were cesarean. At admission, 74% of neonates were asymptomatic; 26% showed respiratory distress or temperature instability. Diagnosis was confirmed by PCR in 59% of neonates. Two preterm neonates required mechanical ventilation. Median hospital stay was 9 days. Within the first week of life, 57% of neonates developed thrombocytopenia. No deaths or sequelae were recorded in neonates. One mother died because of severe dengue with shock.

CONCLUSION

In this multicenter registry, 74% of neonates were asymptomatic and 21% preterm, with no deaths or sequelae at discharge and 30 days of follow-up.

KEY POINTS: · In 98% of pregnant individuals with dengue infection was mild, and one died.. · About 74% of neonates with congenital dengue were asymptomatic.. · Thrombocytopenia was seen in 57% of neonates within the first week of life with a peak at day 7..