Dengue Infection in Pediatric Patients Admitted in A Tertiary Care Hospital in Rawalpindi

Objective: To review clinico-pathological data of Dengue infection in paediatric patients admitted during epidemic of 2015. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics during the epidemic from 1 July to 31 December, 2015. Materials and Methods: Febrile patients, aged 1-12 year of both genders (fulfilling the criteria of dengue infection according to the reporting form designed by Dengue Advisory Expert group for dengue infection) were included. Their clinical features, blood counts and dengue markers were recorded and followed up during hospital stay. Findings were subjected to SPSS 20 for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 133 febrile patients, half of them were male, were included after confirmation of diagnosis on dengue markers. More than two third 79.7% patients were above five years of age with mean age 8.5+ 3.2 year and mean duration of fever was 5.88+2.14 days. Headache was the most prominent symptom in 54.9% febrile patients followed by vomiting 52.6%. Hepatomegaly was seen in 36.8% patients. Dengue fever was the most common presentation followed by Dengue Haemorrhagic fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome. Patients with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome had restlessness, abdominal pain and cold clammy skin on presentation. Leukopenia was more frequent than thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: This study depicts that children more than five year of age more commonly suffer from dengue fever with full recovery within 96 hours of admission. As vaccine is not available in Pakistan, these patients need timely diagnosis and critical monitoring during disease course to prevent mortality.