Demographic trend in dengue infection.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Dengue fever is a significant cause of tropical fevers in hospitalized Indian children, particularly those under 15.
• Existing knowledge gaps regarding dengue's epidemiological factors necessitate further investigation.
• Understanding demographic trends is crucial for managing dengue's impact on pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical profile of dengue infection in children.
• To analyze demographic trends of confirmed dengue cases over a five-year period.
• To correlate environmental factors like rainfall with dengue incidence.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted on pediatric inpatients diagnosed with dengue via serology over five years.
• Data analysis included percentage calculations for categorical data and T-tests for rainfall correlation.
• Correlation plots analyzed dengue incidence during COVID-19 years, and line plots tracked the trend of severe dengue cases.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was observed between rainfall and an increased incidence of dengue cases.
• Dengue cases showed a reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic years.
• The severity of dengue presentations increased in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Conclusions:

• Environmental factors, such as rainfall, significantly influence dengue's epidemiological trends in children.
• The study highlights a concerning trend of increasing dengue severity in recent years.
• Findings can inform adaptive vector control strategies to mitigate dengue's impact.