Dengue Viral Infection and Necessity for Screening Patients Having Pyrexia of Unknown Origin

Abstract

Dengue Viral Infection (DVI) is an emerging global health problem infecting about 50-100 million people annually world wide. More than 2.5 million people have dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Aedesaegypti is the principal vector for disease transmission while humans are the main reservoir. The clinical manifestations range from self limited Dengue fever (DF) to complicated and fatal outcomes, DHF and DSS. DF is prevalent in more than 100 countries of the world. More than 2.5 billion people of the World ' s population are residents of Dengue endemic area. According to one reported study the prevalence of DF in Pakistan is 29%. Similarly one study result carried out in India has shown 78% prevalence of DF. In Mexico the one published seroprevalence study showed 79.6% prevalence of DF. A review/analysis report of Gynecological and Obstetrical survey from 30 published studies has shown 64% transmission rate of DF from a mother to a child. The study results carried out in Jamaica has shown an increased in the prevalence of DF in seen in less than 1year and more than 60 years. The mortality rate with DHF is 33%. While in less than 15 year of it is 5%. This can be only reduced with early/ accurate diagnosis and the prompt management of the condition. Absence of specific vaccine and anti viral is responsible for making this infection as a global health problem. The US government has spent 15 million US dollars for the establishment and discovery of specific DF treatment. The study carried out in India has shown the median cost for treatment per patient about 432.2 US dollars. It is 4 times in case of private health sectors. The proposed review article will highlight the incidence of dengue infection in patients having PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). It will be a guide for the clinicians to consider DVI in their list of differential diagnosis of PUO. Moreover it will be helpful in establishing the screening policies for DVI in PUO. The resultant of all of this will improve the life quality of PUO sufferers. It will be useful to reduce the increased financial burden due to PUO missed diagnosis and management in under developed countries like one of ours.