Dengue Fever in Children: Role of Ultrasonography.

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue fever is one of the most important emerging vector-borne viral diseases. There are four serotypes of dengue viruses, each of which is capable of causing self-limited dengue fever or even life-threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of sonographic findings as early diagnostic modality in children with dengue fever. Materials & Methods:This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in the department of pediatrics of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 88 patients who were clinically and serologically (NS1 antigen/ IgM/ IgG antibody) diagnosed as dengue positive were included in this study.These patients also underwent USG abdomen and chest within the first week of the illness. Results: Out of the 88 confirmed dengue cases,56 (63.6%) cases were males. All the cases had fever (100%). Other clinical symptoms were vomiting in 64.8%, abdominal pain in 62.5%,bodyache 53.4%, Shock in 28.4%, headache in48.9% and rashes in 23.9%.The USG findings were hepatomegaly (39.8%), gall bladder thickening (53.4%), splenomegaly (20.5%), pleural effusion (38.6%) and ascites (30.7%).Overall 65 (73.8%) out of 88 cases had one of the positive finding in ultrasonography. Conclusion: Ultrasonography can be used as a first-line imaging modality in all patients with suspected dengue fever to detect early signs suggestive of the disease.