Autopsy in dengue encephalitis: An analysis of three cases

Dengue viral infection with unusual presentations has been described in literature, but autopsy is rarely done and is only limited to some cases, based on the literature review. Here, we present the autopsy findings in three cases of dengue encephalitis. All the three patients clinically presented with signs of meningoencephalitis and were positive for dengue non-structural (NS) 1 antigen (Ag) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The postmortem findings revealed cerebral edema, inflammation, hemorrhage, and microinfarcts in all the three cases with herniation of the brain in one case. Sub-massive hepatocellular necrosis was seen in one case. The renal findings included hemorrhage into the Bowman's capsule with red cell cast in two of three cases. The pulmonary findings included a diffuse destruction of the alveoli and hemorrhage into the alveolar spaces in all the three cases.