DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i05.054

Pages: 2071-2074

Dengue is a major international health concern that is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is estimated that worldwide nearly 2.5 billion people continue to live at risk of contracting the infection while 50 million cases and 24,000 deaths tend to occur in 100 endemic countries. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence, hepatic dysfunction during current outbreak of dengue fever in children. Prospective study was conducted on all the laboratory confirmed cases of dengue fever during the outbreak from May 2015 to July 2015 among 300 children admitted to 4 major hospitals in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. This study reveals the prevalence of hepatic dysfunction in 14.3% of the cases. Among the gender and age, majority of them were males with 65% and in the age group of 6-10 years with 4%. The commonest symptom and signs was jaundice in 3.3% and hepatomegaly in 10.3% of the cases. The commonest liver function tests altered were elevated liver enzymes in 10.6% of the cases. Based on the group, hepatic dysfunction was observed in 12.6% of the severe dengue cases and 1.6% of the dengue with warning signs. Among these severe hepatic dysfunction was seen in 3.3% with no death. This study concludes prevalence of hepatic dysfunction was seen 14.3% with severe hepatic dysfunction in 3.3% and presence of the hepatic dysfunction more in severe dengue, suggesting any febrile child with hepatic dysfunction, dengue infection should be suspected