DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i03.007

Pages: 922-926

Dengue fever is an acute febrile arbo-viral illness which is endemic in India. Continuous surveillance of Dengue infection at the regional level is essential for the proper and timely institution of vector control measures. This study was conducted with the purpose of assessing the seroprevalence and seasonal trend of Dengue virus infection in a tertiary care centre in Tumkur. Blood samples collected from patients presenting with acute febrile illness consistent with dengue infection from April 2013 to March 2014 were included in the study. The diagnosis of dengue was established using immunochromatographic principle to detect dengue NS1 antigen, IgG and IgM anti-dengue virus antibodies. Association between leucopenia and thrombocytopenia with dengue fever and the seasonal trend of dengue infection was also assessed. 278 blood samples were collected in the study period of which 91 were positive for one or more of the serological parameters of dengue infection. NS1 alone was positive in 49.45% of the cases emphasizing the need of inclusion of NS1 based assays for the routine diagnosis of dengue infection. Leucopenia and thrombocytopenia was found to be associated significantly with dengue fever and they can serve as useful accessory tools for the diagnosis of dengue infection. An increase in the dengue fever cases was noted in the monsoon and post-monsoon season corresponding to the increased breeding of mosquitoes.