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Published on: April 10, 2018
Pediatric Dengue in Buenos Aires During the 2024 Outbreak: Clinical Presentation, Laboratory Findings, Viral Load,
Sofía S Carril1, Florencia A Bonnin2,3,4, Maria S Tineo1
1Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Program, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina.
Background:
In 2024, dengue cases reached unprecedented levels worldwide, with the Americas accounting for most cases. This study describes clinical and laboratory characteristics of dengue, comparing children and adolescents, and explores the associations between preexisting anti-dengue virus (DENV) antibodies, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, and viremia.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between January and April 2024. Patients under 18 years with laboratory-confirmed dengue were included and classified as dengue with or without warning signs according to Pan American Health Organization criteria. Comparative analyses were performed between children (<10 years) and adolescents (≥10 years).
Results:
Of 971 suspected cases, 506 (52%) were confirmed (median age 11 years, IQR 8-14; 67% adolescents). Headache, musculoskeletal, and abdominal pain occurred more frequently in adolescents. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were significantly more frequent among adolescents, whereas elevated transaminases were significantly more common in children under 10 years of age. The median platelet and white blood cell counts were also significantly lower in the adolescent group. Warning signs occurred in 34%, mainly mucosal bleeding, persistent vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. Fifteen percent required hospitalization. Secondary infections were linked to elevated transaminases but not severe disease. No significant associations were observed between viremia and age, immune status, or serotype. An association between higher viremia and dengue without warning signs was likely due to earlier sample collection in this patient group. DENV-2 predominated (54%). Five patients developed severe dengue; no deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
Pediatric dengue shows age-related heterogeneity. The surge of cases in large urban centers of a previously non-endemic country reflects the changing dynamics of dengue in Latin America, emphasizing the urgent need for strengthened surveillance, prevention, and early risk stratification.
