A Case Study of Dual Infection of Dengue and COVID-19: Presenting as Multiorgan Dysfunction in an Infant

Abstract

Dengue is a major health concern in South Asian countries transmitted by bite of day breeder mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus . Severity of plasma leak, shock, bleeding tendency and other organ dysfunction can be more pronounced in infants. The management becomes further complicated in the presence of a co-existing COVID-19 infection. Although COVID-19 infection is usually asymptomatic or has mild manifestations in children, however in presence of serious co-infection like dengue it can modify the course of the illness and lead to drastic consequences. Here, we present one such case of a 9-month-old female child who tested positive for dengue as well as COVID-19 during the ongoing corona pandemic and went on to develop shock, encephalopathy with deranged liver enzymes but managed to overcome all odds and recover from the disease by day 14 of illness.

Covid-19: Coinfections and Palliative Care

“…1 Often presenting with fever, cough, dyspnoea, asthenia, and myalgia, or as a nonspecific mild disorder, the challenging differential diagnosis must include other viruses and bacterial infections. [1][2][3][4] Additionally, there are some confirmed examples of concurrent infections involving COVID-19. 1,3,4 Besides the diagnostic pitfalls, dual infections may raise concerns about antimicrobial schedule.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Additionally, there are some confirmed examples of concurrent infections involving COVID-19. 1,3,4 Besides the diagnostic pitfalls, dual infections may raise concerns about antimicrobial schedule. 3 Specific diagnostic exams for CoV-2 infection are available in the whole world; however, the possibility of false negative or false positive results of the antibody tests should be ever considered.…”

“…In this setting, additional comments seem appropriate about concomitant viral and bacterial infections in patients with COVID-19 and the possibility of misdiagnosis with dengue infection. 1,[3][4][5] García-Martínez et al x reported a 19-year-old woman with two days of fever, facial swelling, skin changes, cervical lymphadenopathy, pharyngotonsillitis, and splenomegaly. The chest CT scan did not show abnormalities.…”

SARS‐CoV‐2 and dengue virus co‐infection: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and management

“…All the patients in these case report made a full recovery. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Times of India further reported a case of a 68‐year‐old man who died suffering from COVID‐19 and dengue at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal. 20 Two patients of Bangladesh have also been reported to have co‐infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 and DENV, causing one of the patients to succumb to it eventually.…”

“…The SARS‐CoV‐2 and DENV co‐infection in these regions will perhaps continue to burden the healthcare system substantially. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 …”