ABSTRACT
Background: To define the clinical profile of Chikungunya in infants admitted at a District Hospital in South India.Methods: All infants admitted in Government District Headquarters Hospital, Namakkal from January 2019 to December 2019 with fever (defined as axillary temperature > 99.6 F) and any one of the following features; seizure, loose stools, peripheral cyanosis, skin manifestations or pedal edema in children less than one year with chikungunya IgM ELISA positive were included in this study. Details of disease from onset of illness till admission were noted. This was a descriptive observational study.Results: Fifty-six (46) infants were included in this study, out of it 27(58.69%) were males and 19(41.30%) were females. 7(15.21%) infants were less than 1 month of age, 21(45.65%) were 2-6 months old and 18(39.13%) were 7-12 months old. Fever was invariably present but associated constitutional symptoms in infants consisted of lethargy or irritability and excessive cry. The most characteristic feature of the infection in infants was acrocyanosis and symmetrical erythematous rash were noted in most infants. Erythematous macules and patches were observed which later progressed to morbilliform rashes.Conclusions:Atypical clinical manifestations of chikungunya infection in infants as compared to older children to be carefully observed for its proper management. The morbidity and mortality of the disease may be avoided by the rational use of drugs and close monitoring of all infants.
ABSTRACT
Background: To assess the clinical profile of dengue fever in children.Methods: In this Prospective observational study 110 patients who admitted in Government District Headquarters Hospital, Namakkal between 1st August 2019 to 31st December 2019 were included. Those patients with confirmed dengue, with IgM dengue antibody positive were included in this study. Detailed history was taken, and clinical examination was performed, and laboratory investigations were done.Results: In this study 110 patients were studied, majority were males. Fever was present in 100% of patients followed by headache, myalgia. The common signs and symptoms of dengue infection were fever, headache, body ache, retro-orbital pain, bleeding manifestations, and rash in 100%, 97.27%, 92.72%, 77.27%, 8.12%, and 60.90%, respectively. In 90 cases platelet count was less than 100,000/cumm of which bleeding manifestation was found in 9 patients. Pleural effusion and ascites were observed in 25 and 15 cases respectively. Hepatomegaly was noted in 19 cases and splenomegaly in 10. Leucopenia was present in 52 cases whereas raised liver enzymes were present in 51 cases. The mortality rate was 0.9%.Conclusions: Dengue epidemic has increased in recent past probably due to unplanned urbanization with rapid construction activities, unhygienic condition and poor sanitation facilities contributing fertile breeding soil for mosquitoes. Early diagnosis and management can decrease mortality and morbidity of illness. Platelet transfusions have little role in management of dengue patients.