Clinical Profile and Diagnostic Parameters of Dengue Viral Infection among Children

Dengue fever is an acute febrile arbovirus disease. Dengue is almost endemic all over India. Complications caused are dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome(DSS).Present study was conducted to know the sero prevalence of dengue infection and correlate clinical manifestations and diagnostic parameters of dengue infection in children. We conducted a cross sectional study on patients with acute febrile illness, clinically diagnosed as having dengue fever as per the WHO criteria. Serum samples collected from these patients were tested for Detection of IgM antibody by MAC ELISA and immune chromatographic (IC) test. Detection of NS1 antigen by IC test. Detection of platelet count by automated machine. Among 200 dengue suspected cases 37(18.5%) were positive by IgM MAC ELISA, 22(11%) by IgM IC test and 12(6%) by NS1 antigen IC test, of which 7(3.5%) were positive by both IgM antibody and NS1antigen. Among seropositive, 35 (83.33%) revealed thrombocytopenia. Maximum children 27 (64.28%) presented with bleeding manifestation. However, no significant difference observed with hematocrit values. Prevalence of dengue infection was 21%. Most of them (59.53%) presented with DHF. Significant association of thrombocytopenia found in dengue positive subjects, more so when NSI antigen and Ig M antibody are detected simultaneously. K e y w o r d s