Frequency of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome In Dengue Fever

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is caused by one of the four dengue virus sero types transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. It was thought to be a disease of tropics but now it's a global health problem. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome in dengue fever. MATERIALS & METHODS: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in medical wards, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. All patients of either gender, aged> 14 years and febrile patients with positive dengue IgM or NS1 antigen were included in the study. Patients with respiratory, urinary tract and CNS infection, liver disease, hepatotoxic or bone marrow suppressant drugs and using alcohol were excluded. All cases of dengue fever, with one or more symptoms and positive dengue specific IgM or NS1 antigen were included in the study. After detail history, examination and bio data, patients were looked for Dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS-17. Mean±standard deviation was calculated for continuous variables like age while frequencies and percentages for categorical variables like gender, complications. RESULTS: Among the 161 patients 68% were male and 32% were female. Mean age was 35 ±1.26years. The frequency of Dengue hemorrhagic fever was 12% and Dengue shock syndrome was 5%. CONCLUSION: Infections associated to dengue virus are emerging global health problem. Its most dangerous complications are Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome with Dengue hemorrhagic fever being more common.