Sero-Diagnosis of Dengue Infections by Haemagglutination Inhibition Test (HI) in Suspected Cases in Chittagong, Bangladesh

A hospital-based cross sectoral serological study was undertaken in Chittagong metropolitan city – the second largest city in Bangladesh to assess the current receptivity of the country for DF/DHF, using the haemagglutination inhibition test (HI). Samples were taken from the suspected cases of dengue infection following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 253 paired samples was collected from selected children aged between 1-15 years. A total of 18 (7.1%) samples were interpreted as positive ones out of which 9 (50.0%) were male children and the remaining 9 female children. Primary dengue infection was serologically diagnosed in 4 patients. Seven samples (male 4, female 3) produced results which were suggestive of definite secondary dengue infection while 1 male sample was interpreted as either primary or secondary dengue infection, and 6 (3 male, 3 female) samples were interpreted as presumed secondary infection. Five to 9.9-year-old children were the most vulnerable group as 10 (55.6%) out of a total of 18 positive samples came from this group The monthly distribution of positive cases showed that December 1996 topped the list with 5 (27.8%) cases, followed by November 1996 and October 1996 with 4 (22.2%) positive samples each.