High Incidence of Dengue Fever in Karachi and the Benefits of Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Complications

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever presentations are from asymptomatic fever to most serious complications. Acute high-grade fever, muscle and joint pain, myalgia, skin rashes, hemorrhage and circulatory shock are the common symptoms. There has been reported increase in number of dengue fever and last few years. Urgent diagnosis is critical to avoid complications like liver injury, cardiomyopathy, pneumonia, orchitis, oophoritis, seizures and encephalopathies. This study aimed to determine the complication caused by dengue fever after the diagnosis by clinical and laboratory investigation by performing ultrasound abdomen and thorax. Methods: In this study one hundred and twenty one (121) patients diagnosed with dengue fever and laboratory investigations done from Jinnah Medical Hospital (JMH) and Pathological and Molecular Laboratories from August to November 2019. Ultrasound of abdomen and thorax was performed for diagnosing complications such as ascites, pleural and pericardial effusion through Xario-100 sonography machine. Results: Out of one hundred and twenty one (121) patients diagnosed with dengue fever forty-three (43) were found to have developed the complications such as ascites, pleural and pericardial effusion by performing ultrasound abdomen and chest. Conclusion: We found 35 % patients with dengue fever complications by ultrasound, which is most convenient diagnostic tool. Therefore, by performing early ultrasound scan of abdomen and thorax in these patients can reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.