Demographic and Clinico-Epidemiological Features of Dengue Fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2011 and 2012. During the study period, anti-dengue IgM positive cases were reported in the post-monsoon period during the months of August–December. Certain hotspots for the dengue infection were identified in the city that coincide with the clusters of densely populated urban regions of the city. Out of total 299 IgM positive patients (male 218 and female 81); there were 239 dengue fever (DF) and 60 dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients. There was decrease in the median age of dengue patients from 31 years in 2011 to 21.5 years in 2012 (p<0.001). Abdominal pain was seen in 35% DHF patients followed by nausea in 28.3%, epistaxis in 25% and rash in 20% patients (p<0.05). Patients reported to be suffering from high-grade fever for an average of 8.83 days in DHF as compared to 5.82 days in DF before being hospitalized. Co-morbidities were found to be risk factor for the development of DHF in dengue patients. Clinical and laboratory features of dengue cases studied could be used for the early identification of patients at risk of severe dengue fever.

The epidemiology of Dengue fever in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review

“…These findings are inconsistent with three studies performed in Australia, France and Mexico, which documented that DF was more common among the female population. However, they did not find statistically significant relationships [23,25,26].…”

Dengue fever virus in Pakistan: effects of seasonal pattern and temperature change on distribution of vector and virus

“…Similarly, the flood of 2012 started in early September, and like the previous one, it was also the result of heavy monsoon rains in KPK, Upper Sindh, Balochistan, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Punjab http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(Pakistani_province). This resulted in the spread of infectious diseases such as bacterial and vector‐borne infections, including dengue …”

“…Dengue is also considered a water‐borne disease, as mosquitoes typically flourish in aquatic habitats, where they lay eggs in water‐filled containers. Thus, epidemics of DF tend to occur annually during rainy seasons in the tropics and interannually after weather events with a more hot and humid environment enhanced by electricity crisis in countries like Pakistan . Moreover, mosquitoes also flourish in hot and dry conditions because natural predators of mosquitoes are greatly reduced during drought times, as wetlands dry up …”

“…Thus, epidemics of DF tend to occur annually during rainy seasons in the tropics and interannually after weather events with a more hot and humid environment enhanced by electricity crisis in countries like Pakistan. 97,98 Moreover, mosquitoes also flourish in hot and dry conditions because natural predators of mosquitoes are greatly reduced during drought times, as wetlands dry up. 99 Pakistan is a subtropical country with climatic conditions conducive for spread of dengue.…”

Factors Associated With Severity of Illness in Patients With Dengue Fever in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India

“…In the current study, we did not find statistically significant association of splenomegaly with severe illness. In a recently published report from Pakistan, it was observed that significant number of patients with severe dengue had splenomegaly [22]. The reason for spleen enlargement in severe dengue infection may be due to replication of dengue virus in spleen, resulting in splenomegaly [23].…”