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Published on: July 9, 2011
Incidence of dengue illness among children in an urban setting in South India: A population based study
Winsley Rose1, Kulandaipalayam Natarajan Sindhu2, Asha Mary Abraham3
1Department of Child Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004, India.
Insights
This study found a high incidence of dengue in Vellore children experiencing prolonged fever. The annual dengue incidence rate was 49.5 per 1000 child-years among those with fever lasting over three days.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Dengue poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Accurate incidence data is crucial for effective disease control and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the population-based incidence of dengue among children with fever lasting longer than three days.
- To assess the burden of dengue in a peri-urban population in Vellore, India.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the National Surveillance System for Enteric Fever in India (NSSEFI) cohort in Vellore.
- Followed 6648 children (6 months to 14 years) for one year, monitoring fever episodes.
- Tested children with fever >3 days for dengue using NS1 antigen, IgM, and PCR.
Main Results:
- Over 5800 child-years of observation, 3171 (27%) of 11753 fever episodes lasted >3 days.
- Dengue was confirmed in 82 (9.4%) of 868 tested episodes, with 51.6% positive by PCR.
- The annual incidence rate of dengue was 49.5 per 1000 child-years for children with prolonged fever.
Conclusions:
- Peri-urban Vellore experiences a substantial burden of dengue among children.
- Prolonged fever in children is a significant indicator for potential dengue infection.
Objectives:
Our main objective was to estimate population based dengue incidence estimates in children with fever >3 days.
Methods:
The study used the 'National Surveillance System for Enteric Fever in India' (NSSEFI) cohort at the Vellore site. Children aged 6 months to 14 years from a peri-urban setting in Vellore were followed up for a year for the presence of fever. All children who had fever >3days were eligible for blood culture to diagnose typhoid. All children that presented with fever >3days on alternate days of the week were also tested for dengue. Dengue incidence estimates were then calculated.
Results:
There were 6648 children followed up with a cumulative observation period of 5800 child years. There were 11753 fever episodes with 3171 (27%) episodes lasting >3 days. Totally, 784 children with 868 episodes of fever were tested for Dengue. NS1 antigen or Dengue IgM or both were positive in 82 (9.4%) of those tested for Dengue. Dengue PCR was positive in 33/64 (51.6%) of the samples positive samples. The annual incidence rate of dengue was 49.5 per 1000 child years among children with fever >3 days.
Conclusions:
There is high burden of dengue in peri-urban Vellore.
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