Dengue in Early Pregnancy: A Neglected Problem?

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Dengue virus infection poses risks during pregnancy, with limited data on early-stage effects.
• Previous studies on dengue in pregnancy often have small sample sizes.
• Understanding the impact of dengue in early pregnancy is crucial for maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fetomaternal outcomes in pregnant patients with dengue based on early (<24 weeks) versus late (>24 weeks) gestation.
• To determine the prevalence of abortion in pregnant patients with dengue.
• To identify predictive factors for abortion in dengue-infected pregnant individuals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 62 pregnant patients diagnosed with dengue during pregnancy.
• Data collected from medical records over a six-year period (April 2016 - February 2022).
• Statistical analysis included Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test (p<0.05 considered significant).

Main Results:

• Dengue in early pregnancy (<24 weeks) was associated with higher rates of intrauterine growth restriction (55.6% vs 12.9%) and oligohydramnios (66.7% vs 17.9%).
• Overall abortion incidence was 33.3%; 71.4% of abortions occurred in patients with gestational age <12 weeks.
• Predictive factors for abortion included prior abortion history (p=0.004), gestational age <12 weeks (p=0.003), and decreased platelet count (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

• Dengue infection in early pregnancy is linked to adverse outcomes such as abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, and oligohydramnios.
• Pregnant patients diagnosed with dengue in early gestation require management in a tertiary care setting.
• Identifying risk factors like previous abortion history and low platelet count can aid in managing dengue in pregnancy.