Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Dengue Fever in Adults in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

Aims of the study: To study the epidemiological, clinical profile and the laboratory investigations in adult patients of dengue fever admitted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital (JNMCH) Aligarh. Methods: The Descriptive Observational Study included 100 patients of clinically suspected dengue fever admitted at JNMCH from August 2010 to November 2010. Clinical, laboratory and demographic information was obtained from the patients. Patients lacking typical clinical features of dengue fever and a negative dengue serology were excluded from the study. Results: In this study, fever was the most common presenting complaint, seen in all the patients followed by headache (60%) and myalgia(61%). Bleeding manifestations were seen in the form of melaena (17%), haematemesis(l5%), epistaxis(l4%), gum bleeding(l2%), haematuria(9%), and menorrhagia (3%). Out of the 100 patients, two developed myocarditis and one presented with convulsions. Laboratory investigations showed that 62% patients were NS1 Antigen positive. The liverenzymes were deranged in 64% of the patients, thrombocytopenia in 33% and leucopenia (< 4000/cu mm) in 45%. Five patients developed acute kidney injury. Conc1usion:Fever associated with headache, myalgia, arthralgia, anorexia, vomiting along with skin flush or frank bleeding are the most common clinical manifestations. Laboratory investigations revealed derangement of renal and liver functions, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and dyselectrolytaemia. Prompt recognition and urgent supportive management is lifesaving even in severe dengue.