Neonatal tropical infections: A case series and clinical insights

Tropical fevers can occur year-round but are rare in neonates. These infections, caused by bacteria and viruses, include Dengue, Malaria, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Zika, Chikungunya, Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus and Influenza. This case series presents five neonatal tropical infections admitted to our NICU: two congenital Chikungunya, two neonatal Chikungunya and one co-infection of Dengue and Zika. The diagnosis was confirmed via polymerase chain reaction serology. In two cases, both mother and newborn tested positive; in three, only the newborn was positive. Neonatal tropical infections are rare and often mimic sepsis with symptoms such as skin manifestations, seizures and encephalopathy, making diagnosis challenging.