Clinical characteristics of patients with dengue fever: report of 48 patients in 2010.

Background: Dengue fever is a mosquito born viral disease. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite. Mortality can occur in dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome unless prompt and adequate management is provided.

Objective: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics along with outcome of patients with dengue fever (DF) dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Design: Prospective, follow-up study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Medicine, Shaikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore from 3rd Oct 2010 to 20th Nov 2010.

Patients And Methods: Specific serological tests for dengue fever were done in all 60 patients admitted with suspected diagnosis of DF, DHF and DSS. Forty-eight confirmed cases were evaluated for age, gender, clinical features and outcome of the disease.

Results: Forty-eight out of 60 patients had positive serology for dengue fever. Male to female ratio was 1.09:1. Their ages ranged from 5 years to 68 years with the mean of 31.5 +/- 15.2 years. DF, DHF and DSS were found in 71%, 19% and 10% cases respectively. Common presentations were fever (100%), skin rash (83.33%), myalgia (69.75%), restlessness (66.67%) and rigors and chills (66.67%). All, except one patient improved clinically. One patient died on second day of admission.

Conclusion: Dengue fever, a viral infection is re-emerging as a serious public health problem. Fever, rash, myalgia with rigors and chills were common presenting features.