Thrombocytopenia in an Apparently Healthy Neonate: An Unusual Report of Postnatally Acquired Dengue Infection

Abstract

Dengue is one of the commonest viral infections affecting general population in endemic zones every year. However, dengue is usually not reported in newborn period as it is widely believed that infants are protected from serious viral infections in the first six months of life by presence of maternal antibodies. Here, a unique case of an apparently healthy newborn with dengue fever is reported where transmission of the infection occurred postnatally. A 10-day-old male child, born to a primigravida mother with normal antenatal history, presented with complaints of fever for four days along with full body macular rash. Examination findings revealed red coloured, pin-point macular rash while rest of general and systemic examination were unremarkable. Routine Sepsis work-up was negative except presence of thrombocytopenia. Keeping in mind the endemicity and season of dengue, NS1 antigen of the baby was tested by a rapid antigen test which was positive, which was further confirmed by IgM ELISA for dengue. However, the mother was asymptomatic and platelet count as well as NS1 antigen and IgM, IgG ELISA for dengue of the mother was negative.

Keywords

• horizontal transmission
• neonatal dengue
• neonatal thrombocytopenia