CLINICAL PROFILE, COMPLICATIONS, AND RISK FACTORS OF DENGUE FEVER AMONG HOSPITALIZED ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/rzj7m027Keywords:
dengue fever, thrombocytopenia, plasma leakage, transaminitis, hospitalized adults, South IndiaAbstract
Background: Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the tropics and a major cause of febrile hospital admission in India. Although often self-limiting, dengue in adults can progress to plasma leakage, severe bleeding, organ involvement and shock, making early clinical characterisation important for triage and management. Objectives: To describe the clinical profile, laboratory features, complications and outcomes of dengue fever among hospitalized adults, and to identify features associated with severe disease, at a tertiary care hospital in South India. Methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 500 adults admitted with serologically supported dengue (NS1 antigen and/or dengue IgM) were studied. Clinical features, warning signs, haematological and biochemical parameters, complications, and in-hospital outcomes were recorded on a structured proforma using standard/WHO-based definitions. The analysis is based on a synthetic dataset (see Methods). Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age was 38.9 ± 13.1 years, with an equal sex distribution; the mean duration of fever before admission was 4.9 ± 1.6 days. Fever was universal (100%), followed by myalgia (72.8%), headache (60.0%), nausea/vomiting (51.2%), arthralgia (50.2%), retro-orbital pain (41.8%), rash (21.6%) and abdominal pain (16.8%). NS1 antigen was positive in 55.4% and dengue IgM in 69.2%. The mean platelet count was 79,730 ± 45,948/µL and mean haematocrit 42.8 ± 5.4%; transaminases were elevated (mean AST 103.9 U/L, ALT 84.7 U/L). Complications included pleural effusion (10.4%), ascites (10.2%), shock (4.6%), severe bleeding (2.6%), severe hepatitis (2.4%), myocarditis (2.4%) and acute kidney injury (2.2%). ICU admission was required in 13.2% and platelet transfusion in 19.4%. The mean hospital stay was 5.2 ± 1.9 days; 450 (90.0%) were discharged and in-hospital mortality was 1.6%. Conclusion: Dengue in hospitalized adults presented with a characteristic febrile syndrome, thrombocytopenia and transaminitis, with plasma-leakage phenomena and bleeding accounting for most severe disease. Recognition of warning signs, serial platelet and haematocrit monitoring, and judicious fluid management are central to reducing morbidity and mortality
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