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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
04:23
A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
Published on: April 28, 2019
Dengue fever outbreak: a clinical management experience
Shahid Ahmed1, Nadir Ali, Shahzad Ashraf
1Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt., Karachi, Pakistan. shahidahmed833@hotmail.com
Summary
Dengue fever affects 2% of febrile illness patients, with confirmed cases at 0.8%. Clinical signs like fever, body aches, and low platelet counts help screen for dengue virus infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Dengue fever is a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Accurate diagnosis and understanding of clinical presentations are crucial for effective patient management and disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of dengue as a cause of febrile illness.
- To compare clinical and hematological characteristics between probable and confirmed dengue cases.
Main Methods:
- An observational study was conducted at a military hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
- Patients aged over 14 presenting with acute febrile illness were evaluated based on WHO criteria for Dengue Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, and Dengue Shock Syndrome.
- Clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed using SPSS.
Main Results:
- Out of 5200 febrile patients, 107 (2%) had suspected dengue, with 40 (0.8%) confirmed cases.
- Common symptoms included fever, chills, myalgia, and headache. Leucopenia (73%) and thrombocytopenia (84%) were frequent hematological findings.
- Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were observed in a small percentage of cases.
Conclusions:
- Clinically suspected dengue virus infection was identified in 2% of febrile patients, with confirmed cases at 0.8%.
- Parameters such as fever, body aches, headache, rash, bleeding manifestations, platelet count, leukocyte count, and ALT levels are valuable for screening suspected dengue cases.
- Definitive diagnosis requires confirmation through molecular studies or dengue-specific IgM antibody tests.
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