Clinical presentation of Dengue fever in children in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever is a very common tropical disease and also a major public concern in Bangladesh. It occurs in Bangladesh during and just after the rainy season. The risk factors of Dengue fever are environmental and climatic situation. Clinical manifestations of Dengue in children often vary. So, making early diagnosis of Dengue is very challenging. Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation of Dengue fever in children admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the paediatric department of a Bangladesh Medical University over a six months period from July 2024 to December 2024. Fifty Children aged 6 months to 15 years were included. Results: The majority of children belonged to the 5-10-year age group. Most patients (64.0%) were from urban areas, and males were predominantly affected (58.0%). The most common clinical features were fever (100.0%), abdominal pain (62.0%), vomiting (58.0%), rash (44.0%), diarrhoea (24.0%) and bleeding manifestations (44.0%). A positive tourniquet test was observed in 68.0% of cases. Pleural effusion and ascites were found in 16.0% and 28.0% of patients, respectively. Regarding disease severity, 18.0% had Dengue fever, 38.0% had Dengue hemorrhagic fever, 20.0% had Dengue with warning signs and 24.0% presented with Dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: Dengue fever in children presents with a wide spectrum of clinical features, ranging from mild febrile illness to severe life-threatening complications.

DS (Child) H J 2025; 41(1): 7-10