Dengue hepatitis: Incidence, spectrum and outcome

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hepatology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Dengue infection is prevalent in India, yet data on dengue hepatitis is limited.
• Understanding dengue hepatitis is crucial for managing severe dengue cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence, spectrum, and outcomes of dengue hepatitis.
• To identify factors associated with mortality in dengue hepatitis patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of dengue patients with hepatitis admitted to two tertiary care hospitals in western India (2016-2021).
• Dengue infection diagnosed by serology; dengue hepatitis and severity categorized by standard criteria.

Main Results:

• 11.9% incidence of dengue hepatitis among 1664 dengue patients (199 cases).
• Severe dengue (50%), severe dengue hepatitis (36%), and acute liver failure (4%) were observed.
• Mortality rate was 17% (33 deaths), with multi-organ failure being the most common cause; shock independently predicted mortality.

Conclusions:

• Dengue hepatitis is a significant complication of dengue infection in India with a 17% mortality rate.
• Severe dengue, shock, and acute liver failure are associated with increased mortality.
• Prompt recognition and management of shock are critical for improving outcomes in dengue hepatitis.