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Serum cortisol levels in children with dengue haemorrhagic fever
Myo-Khin1, Soe-Thein, Thein-Thein-Myint
1Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Union of Myanmar.
Insights
This study found that children with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Myanmar did not experience cortisol insufficiency. Serum cortisol levels were elevated during acute illness, particularly in cases with shock.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Endocrinology
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) poses a significant pediatric health risk in Myanmar.
- Cortisol sufficiency is crucial during severe infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortisol levels in children with dengue infection.
- To determine if cortisol insufficiency occurs in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
Main Methods:
- Serum cortisol levels were measured in 62 children with dengue infection (DHF and dengue fever).
- A control group of 26 children with non-dengue viral infections was included.
- Cortisol levels were assessed during acute and convalescent illness stages.
Main Results:
- Children with DHF exhibited significantly higher serum cortisol levels compared to controls (P < 0.05).
- Highest mean cortisol levels were observed in DHF cases with shock.
- Acute stage cortisol levels in DHF were double those in the convalescent stage.
Conclusions:
- No evidence of cortisol insufficiency was found in children with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.
- Elevated cortisol levels during acute DHF suggest a potential stress response rather than deficiency.
Abstract:
Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a serious and often fatal paediatric problem in Myanmar. Acute and convalescent serum cortisol levels were measured in 62 children with dengue infection to study cortisol sufficiency in this disease. Twenty-six children with non-dengue acute viral infection were also included as controls. In acute stage, highest mean serum cortisol level (655.4 +/- 72.18 nmol/l) was observed in DHF cases presenting with shock, followed by DHF non-shock cases (640.56 +/- 74.58 nmol/l) and dengue fever cases (617.2 +/- 75.38 nmol/l). Cases with DHF had significantly higher serum cortisol level (P < 0.05) than in controls (444.41 +/- 59.71 nmol/l). In cases of DHF, mean serum cortisol level during the acute stage was found to be significantly two-fold higher than the convalescent stage. We found no cortisol insufficiency in cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever during acute and convalescent stages of illness.