ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out the pattern of Dengue virus infection in patients who presented with fever
Study Design: Prospective observational study
Setting: This study was conducted at Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences at Hyderabad. Sindh from November 2006 to December 2006
Methods: During this period all blood samples from 173 patients, suspected to be suffering from dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and/or dengue shock syndrome, were received and tested for dengue IgM and IgG antibodies. Complete blood counts were also done. Patients with history of headache, retro-orbital pain, arthralgia, rash, and hemorrhagic manifestations, having leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were included in the study
Results: Most of the patients positive for dengue IgM antibodies were between the age group of 14-years to 50-years [49 males and 12 females]. Out of 173 samples 28 were positive for dengue IgM [primary infection] and 21 were positive for dengue IgG [secondary infection]. While 12 patients found to have late primary and early secondary response with both dengue IgM and IgG antibodies
Conclusion: Dengue fever presented in all three patterns in Sindh province; males predominated mostly with primary infection