A Case Series of Coinfection of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Breakthrough and Dengue Fever: Coexistence of Multiple Infections

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. Dengue is one of the most common tropical diseases in India caused by dengue virus (DENV). COVID-19 and tropical diseases such as dengue and leptospirosis have a similar spectrum of clinical manifestations; therefore, it becomes very difficult to diagnosis. The present study describes five cases of coinfection of COVID-19 and dengue. A case series of patients reported to the flu clinic with fever and myalgia were tested, and diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 and DENV as well as epidemiological and entomological investigations were also done for the identification of the source of infection. Laboratory reports were obtained from hospital laboratory data. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. All patients were younger adult age group and were found to be residents of the same locality. The most common symptom found was fever associated with myalgia. Every patient had a history of contact with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and was fully vaccinated. Thrombocytopenia was seen in two patients. However, only one patient found immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G positive for DENV after discharge. No systemic complications were observed throughout the course of illness in patients. We described a case series of five patients with COVID-19 breakthrough and cases of dengue. Clinicians should have a suspicion of multiple infections while managing the cases.

Keywords

• breakthrough
• coinfection
• coronavirus disease 2019
• dengue fever