BACKGROUND Dengue is an acute febrile illness caused by mosquito-borne dengue viruses (DENV S) consisting of four serotypes (DENV 1 - 4) from flaviviridae family, genus flavivirus. These four are antigenically related serotypes designated as DEN V - 1, DEN V - 2, DEN V - 3 and DEN V – 4. In this context, the present study focuses on the circulating serotypes of dengue in coastal Andhra Pradesh. METHODS Study was done at Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, teaching hospital in Andhra Pradesh. Acute phase dengue serum samples were collected and tested for NS1 antigen and antihuman IgM antibodies by enzyme linked –immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NS1 positive samples were further serotyped by reverse transcriptase real time polymerase chain reaction (R RT - PCR). RESULTS A total of 796 serum samples were included in the study. 300 (37.7 % ) samples were positive for NS1 and IgM antibodies. 192 NS1 antigen positive samples were further processed for serotyping by r RT PCR. Among these samples 72 were negative by r RT PCR. DENV-2 (41 %) was the predominant serotype followed by DENV-4 (37 %), DENV-3 (12 %) and DENV-1 (10 %) in the descending order. CONCLUSIONS All the four dengue serotypes are in co-circulation. Among all the four types, DENV-2 was predominant, followed by DENV-4. By knowing the predominant serotype in circulation, we can forecast dengue outbreaks and take necessary measures like control of vectors. KEY WORDS Andhra Pradesh, Dengue Virus, Dengue Virus - 2, Dengue Virus - 4, Outbreak, Serotypes

Pregnancy induced Hypertension (PIH) is strongly associated with intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight (LBW) and admission to NICU. PIH is not by itself an indication for caesarean delivery. However, the incidence of caesarean is high because of the development of complications in mother and the need to deliver prematurely. To compare the immediate morbidity and survival advantage of LBW vertex presenting babies with the mode of delivery in hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancies. This was a comparative cross-sectional study done on women admitted to the labour ward during the study period with PIH delivering a baby through either a vaginal delivery or a caesarean section with a birthweight of <2.5kgs. A detailed history taking and clinical examination was done. Babies were followed up for one week following delivery to note down the early neonatal outcome. In this study, over all there was no statistically significant difference in neonatal outcome in both vaginal delivery and caesarean section groups. However, there was slight increased incidence of prematurity (68% vs 64%), Birth Asphyxia (14% vs 8%), Sepsis (8% vs 6%), IVH (6% vs 2%) and Hyperbilirubinemia (16% vs 14%) in vaginal delivery group. While, RDS (20% vs 14%) and NEC (4% vs 2%) had higher incidence in caesarean delivery group. Overall, prematurity and IUGR resulting in LBW, contributed to these neonatal complications. Caesarean delivery offers no short-term survival advantage compared with vaginal delivery for LBW vertex presenting foetuses in PIH patients. Neonatal outcomes are not worsened by spontaneous or induced vaginal delivery in women with hypertension with good control and also decreases morbidity due to caesarean section to the mother.