BACKGROUND Dengue is a rapidly progressing self-limiting systemic viral infection transmitted between humans by mosquitoes. About two-fifth of world's population, mostly those in tropical and sub-tropical countries are at a risk of dengue infection.
MATERIALS AND METHODSA hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Ongole. A total of 233 patients who were clinically diagnosed cases of Dengue with subsequent confirmation by Dengue NS1 Ag/ Dengue IgM were selected in the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, either by direct interview with patients or patient's relatives and by clinical examination and from relevant investigations.
RESULTSOut of the 233 study population, majority (44.6%, n= 104) belonged to 40 -59 years age group. Fever was the most common presenting symptom (99.6%) in the present study followed by myalgia in 60%, headache in 43.8%, joint pain in 35.6% and backache in 28.8%. Majority had low platelet count (68.2%). SGPT was altered in 65.2%, serum albumin in 33% and SGOT in 73.7% of the patients. 16.7% of patients had high random blood sugar level and 7.3% had high serum amylase levels. Dengue NS1 antigen was positive in 187 (80.3%) patients and 50 (21.5%) had dengue IgM positivity. The most common radiological finding in the present study was gall bladder wall oedema, which constituted 19.3% cases followed by ascites (9.4%), pleural effusion (9.5%), free fluid in Morrison pouch/ pelvis (2.6%) and pancreatitis (2.6%).
CONCLUSIONUltrasonographic features like gall bladder wall oedema, pleural effusion and ascites should strongly favour diagnosis of dengue fever in a patient who presents with fever and thrombocytopenia, especially during an epidemic.
