Upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in renal tissue in severe dengue in humans: Effects on endothelial activation/dysfunction

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Dengue is an important mosquito-borne disease in tropical and subtropical regions. Adhesion molecules have not been systematically characterized in the renal tissue of patients with severe dengue (SD). The objective of this study was to detect viral antigens in samples from patients that evolved with SD, correlating with the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VE-cadherin, and E-selectin to contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of SD. METHODS: Kidney specimens from patients with SD were selected according to clinical and laboratorial data and submitted to histological and immunohistochemistry analysis. A semiquantitative evaluation was performed considering positive immunostaining in 20 glomeruli. RESULTS: Viral antigens were mainly detected in distal tubules. The intense immunostaining of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was observed. The expression of E-selectin was discrete, and VE-cadherin expression varied from mild to moderate. VCAM-1 was slightly intense in the glomerular capsule; the expression of ICAM-1 was diffuse. E-selectin was diffuse, and VE-cadherin varied from mild to moderate. The most frequent histological findings were glomerular congestion, mild glomerulitis, acute renal injury, and glomerular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: The results appear to demonstrate an imbalance between vascular endothelial permeability regulating events in renal lesions in SD. The increase in the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 is an in-situ indicator of higher permeability with a consequent influx of cells favoring the inflammation of the endothelium. These molecules are important in the pathophysiology of the disease and provide the possibility of developing new markers for the evaluation, clinical follow-up, and therapeutic response of patients with SD.

Dengue, presentación inusual en un lactante: reporte de un caso / Dengue with unusual clinical features in an infant: case report

El estado de Yucatán (México) es un área endémica para dengue. Durante el 2015 hubo un incremento en el número de casos esperados. OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar la presentación clínica, evolución y manejo de un caso de infección por dengue con manifestaciones clínicas inespecíficas en un lactante menor, que derivaron en síndrome de choque por dengue. CASO CLÍNICO: Lactante de un mes que consulta por eritema generalizado y antecedente de picadura de insecto. Su manejo hospitalario se basó en la resolución del episodio agudo de anafilaxia. Durante su estadía presentó hipotensión, taquicardia, anemia y dificultad respiratoria. Se derivó a terapia intensiva pediátrica, pero al quinto día de estancia falleció debido a síndrome de choque. La RPC y serología de anticuerpos IgG confirmaron etiología por dengue. CONCLUSIONES: Las infecciones por dengue en el lactante menor pueden cursar afebriles, por lo cual es importante sospecharlas oportunamente ante la presencia de eritema generalizado, taquicardia e hipotensión, con la finalidad de evitar las consecuencias letales del choque por dengue.

The state of Yucatan, in Mexico, is an endemic area for dengue. During 2015, there was an unpredicted increase in the number of expected cases of dengue fever. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyse the clinical presentation, progress, and management of a case of dengue infection with non-specific clinical manifestations in an infant which resulted in a dengue shock syndrome. CASE REPORT: One month old infant admitted to hospital with a generalised rash and a history of being bitten by an insect. He was diagnosed with anaphylaxis based on clinical manifestations and anamnesis. While in hospital, he developed hypotension, tachycardia, anaemia, and respiratory distress. He was transferred to the intensive care unit, but died on the fifth day. He tested positive to dengue virus in the PCR test and for IgG antibodies using Elisa. The basic cause of death was dengue shock syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever in young infant infections may be afebrile, so it is important to suspect them appropriately in the presence of a generalised rash, tachycardia, and hypotension, in order to avoid the deadly consequences of dengue shock.

Evaluation of sublingual microcirculation in children with dengue shock

OBJECTIVE: To report the sublingual microcirculation observed using Sidestream Dark Field imaging in two children with dengue shock. METHOD: Two children, aged 9 and 10 years, were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with dengue shock and multiple organ dysfunction. Sublingual microcirculation was assessed in each patient on the first and second days of shock and was assessed a final time when the patients were no longer in shock (on the day prior to extubation) using Sidestream Dark Field technology. The De Backer score and microvascular flow index were used for the analyses. RESULTS: Both patients had reduced perfused small vessel density in the first two days and showed predominantly intermittent or no microcirculation flow, as demonstrated by a low microvascular flow index. The blood flow in the large vessels was not affected. Prior to the extubation, the microvascular flow index had increased, although the perfused small vessel density remained diminished, suggesting persistent endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Severe microcirculation changes may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the final stages of dengue shock, which is frequently irreversible and associated with high mortality rates. Microcirculatory monitoring may help elucidate the physiopathology of dengue shock and prove useful as a prognostic tool or therapeutic target. .

Dengue, dengue hemorrágico / Dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever

El Dengue o Fiebre por Dengue, es una enfermedad febril producida por uno de los cuatro serotipos del virus Dengue, que pertenecen al grupo de virus transmitidos por artrópodos, arthropod-borne-virus ó arbovirus. La transmisión se hace por medio de la hembra del mosquito Aedes aegypti, que pertenece al género flavivirus de la familia flaviridae. El Dengue es la enfermedad transmitida por vectores más frecuente en todo el mundo. Desde 1993 en Costa Rica el Dengue es una enfermedad endémica en las costas del océano Pacífico y del mar Caribe. Durante estos años y hasta el 8 de septiembre del 2007 la prevalencia de Dengue Clásico es de 4.087 casos por 100000 habitantes, de Dengue Hemorrágico 14 casos por 100000 habitantes para una tasa de letalidad por dengue hemorrágico de 0.02 por ciento. Entre la inoculación del virus por la mosquita Aedes y la aparición de los síntomas hay un lapso de 3 a 14 días, en promedio 7 días. Es el período de incubación de la enfermedad. Existen 4 grupos antigénicos o serotipos de virus del Dengue: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 y DEN-4. El DEN-1 tiene sólo 7 biotipos, y el DEN-2, 34 biotipos. Las hemorragias que se producen en el Dengue son el producto de las lesiones en el endotelio vascular, de la trombocitopenia, de la disfunción de las plaquetas y de la alteración de los factores de coagulación. La lesión de las esclusas de la Zonula Occludens provoca un escape de líquidos del espacio intra-vascular al espacio extra-vascular. La hipovolemia desencadena una serie de respuestas homeostáticas que tiene como fin mantener una mejor perfusión de los órganos más nobles de la economía en detrimento de otros órganos como son la piel y los músculos. El periodo febril dura de 3 a 7 días, y el día de la defervescencia, día cero, el paciente evolucionará hacia la convalecencia o hacia el Dengue Hemorrágico. En los primeros días suele aparecer exantema generalizado, con palidez de la piel al hacer presión sobre ella. Las manos y pies se tornan hiper...

Clinical features and differences between child and adult dengue infections in Rayong Province, southeast Thailand.

A retrospective study was conducted among patients with dengue infection admitted to Rayong Hospital during September 2004-September 2005. Data were collected from medical charts and outpatient records created when the patients came to the hospital. Of the patients diagnosed with dengue, only 301 who met the WHO criteria for dengue fever and DHF/DSS were selected. The study cohort was comprised of 147 children (76 males, 71 females) and 154 adults (71 males, 83 females), with an overall mean age of 17.6 years. Some adult clinical symptoms were different from the children. Headache and myalgia were more common among adults (p < 0.05), but cough, vomiting, abdominal pain, and rash were more common among children (p < 0.05). Among the major bleeding symptoms, epistaxis (nasal bleeding) was more common in children (p = 0.012) and gum bleeding was more common in adults (p < 0.001). Myalgia was more likely in less severe grades of infection. Adults showed some different clinical manifestations of dengue infection from children. It is necessary for health personnel to take these differences into consideration when seeing probable cases of dengue infection.

Fisiopatología y tratamiento de la Fiebre Hemorrágica del Dengue / Pathophysiology and management of dengue hemorrhagic fever

La infección por dengue es causada por uno de los cuatro serotipos del virus. Las manifestaciones clínicas varían de infección asintomática a fiebre no diferenciada, fiebre del dengue y fiebre hemorrágica del dengue (FHD). La FHD se caracteriza por la presencia de fiebre elevada constante durante dos a siete días; diátesis hemorrágica, como prueba de torniquete positiva, petequias, epistaxis y hematemesis; trombocitopenia con recuento de plaquetas =< 100 x 10 9/L; y pérdida de plasma debido al aumento de la permeabilidad vascular que se evidencia por hemoconcentración. derrame pleural y ascitis. La diátesis hemorrágica se debe a vasculopatía, trombocitopenia. disfunción plaquetaria y coagulopatía. Las tres etapas de la presentación clínica se denominan febril, tóxica y de convalecencia. La etapa tóxica, que dura entre 24 y 48 horas, es el período más crítico en el que se produce una rápida pérdida de plasma, que ocasiona trastornos circulatorios. La gravedad de la FHD varía de manifestaciones leves (grados I y II, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud OMS), con cambios mínimos y temporarios de los signos vitales, a episodios graves (grados III y IV, según la OMS), con choque inminente (por ejemplo, con presión sanguínea de 100/90 mmHg) o choque profundo. No existe ningún tratamiento específico para la FHD. Los tratamientos complementarios intensivos son el aspecto más importante para el control de la infección. Es fundamental detectar la enfermedad en una primera instancia y controlar atentamente los trastornos circulatorios. El tratamiento óptimo con fluido para mantener la función de los órganos vitales durante el período crítico y el control eficaz de los episodios hemorrágicos permiten obtener resultados favorables. Se recomienda el suministro de factor VII recombinante activado en los casos en que la hemorragia masiva no pueda controlarse mediante la restitución de hemocomponentes.

The impact of dengue on liver function as evaluated by aminotransferase levels

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of dengue virus infection on liver function by measuring aminotransferase in blood samples from patients serologically diagnosed by according to two MAC-ELISA protocols. Degrees of liver damage were classified according to aminotransferase levels: grade A - normal enzyme levels; grade B - increased levels of at least one of the enzymes; grade C - increased, with at least one of the enzymes being at levels higher than three times the upper reference values; grade D - acute hepatitis, with aminotransferase levels at least ten times their normal values. Of the 169 serologically confirmed cases of dengue at the dengue referral center in Campos dos Goytacazes in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 65.1 percent had abnormal aminotransferase levels: 81 cases being classified as grade B, 25 as grade C and 3 as grade D. A further 34.9 percent of cases had normal enzyme levels and were classified as grade A. Liver damage is a common complication of dengue infection and aminotransferase levels are a valuable marker for monitoring these cases.

Envolvimento hepático em pacientes com dengue hemorrágico: manifestação rara? / Liver involvement in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever: a rare phenomenon?

As manifestações hepáticas são descritas como não usuais no dengue e podem evoluir com quadros graves e potencialmente letais. Avaliamos as alterações hepáticas em 41 pacientes com dengue hemorrágico com confirmação laboratorial (ELISA IgM positivo) em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil e observamos 61 por cento (25/41) de alteração na alanina aminotransferase e 80,5 por cento (33/41) na aspartato aminotransferase, sendo que não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas quando comparamos as várias formas clínicas. A variação nos valores de ALT foi de 14-547U/l, nos valores da AST foi de 11-298U/l. Náuseas e/ou vômitos foram referidos por 90 por cento (37/41) dos pacientes, 46,3 por cento (19/41) referiram dor abdominal e 10 por cento (3/29) apresentavam hepatomegalia ao exame físico. A idade variou de 18 a 88 anos, 23 (56 por cento) eram mulheres e 18 (44 por cento) homens.

Hepatic manifestations are described as unusual complications of dengue and may lead to severe and potentially lethal conditions. Liver abnormalities in 41 patients diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, between January 1 and March 31, 2002, were evaluated. All were serologically positive for dengue in laboratory tests (IgM ELISA). ALT alterations were observed in 61 percent (25/41) and AST alterations in 80.5 percent (33/41), but there were no statistically significant differences between the various clinical forms. The range in ALT levels was 14-547U/l and in AST levels was 11-298U/l. Nausea and/or vomiting were reported by 90 percent (37/41) of the patients; 46.3 percent (19/41) had abdominal pain and 10 percent (3/29) presented hepatomegaly at clinical examination. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 88 years; 23 (56 percent) were female and 18 (44 percent) were male.

study on functional similarity between Denque non structural protein 1 and platelet integrin / adhesin protein, CD61

Dengue infection is a major public health problem. The mechanisms underlying severe bleeding in dengue DHF are not completely understood. It was proposed that the dengue virus nonstructural- 1 protein [DNS 1] generated antibodies to common epitopes on human blood clotting and integrinladhesin proteins on the platelet. The proof on the functional correlation between DNS 1 and platelet integrinladhesin proteins is needed. Here, the author used a new gene ontology technology to predict th molecular function and biological process of DNS 1 and platelet integrinladhesin proteir, CD6 1. According to this study, the author can identify no function and biological process of DNS1. Also, there is no existence of functional similarity between DNS1 and CD61. The hypothesis on role of molecular mimicry between DNS1 and CD61 is not supported in this study

Is dengue severity related to nutritional status?

A retrospective review of dengue patients admitted to Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (previously known as Children's Hospital) from 1995 to 1999 revealed 4,532 confirmed cases of dengue infection; 80.9% were dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 19.1% were dengue fever cases (DF). Among the DHF patients; 30.6% had shock. The majority of them, 66.6%, had a normal nutritional status, while 9.3% were malnourished and 24.2% had obesity as classified by weight for age. Compared with control patients with other diagnoses (excluding HIV/AIDS patients), malnourished children had a lower risk of contracting dengue infection (odds ratio = 0.48, 95% Cl = 0.39-0.60, p = 0.000) while obese children had a greater risk of infection with dengue viruses (odds ratio = 1.96, 95% Cl = 1.55-2.5, p = 0.000). The clinical signs, symptoms and laboratory findings of dengue were almost the same among the 3 groups of malnourished, normal, and obese patients. The minor differences observed were that in obese children liver enlargement was found less often; maculopapular/convalescence rash and elevations of alanine aminotransferase were found more often. Malnourished patients had a higher risk of developing shock (37.8%) than normal (29.9%) and obese patients (30.2%) (p = 0.000). Obese patients had more unusual presentations: encephalopathy (1.3%) and associated infections (4.8%), than normal (0.5% and 2.7%) and malnourished patients (1.2% and 3.1%). Complications of fluid overload were found more in obese patients (6.5%) compared to normal (3.2%) and malnourished patients (2.1%) (p = 0.000). The case-fatality rates (CFR) in malnourished patients and obese patients were 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively, while in normal patients the CFR was 0.07%. Under and over nutrition DHF patients had either a greater risk of shock or unusual presentations and complications, which can lead to severe disease or complications and probably a higher CFR.

Caracterización clínica del dengue hemorrágico en niños / Clinical features of hemorrhagic dengue in children

Objetivos: Determinar los síntomas presentes al ingreso que predicen evolución a dengue hemorrágico. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de 88 pacientes ingresados en el servicio de pediatría del Hospital "Dr. Enrique Baltodano" de Liberia en el año 2003. Los pacientes incluidos en el estudio tuvieron serología positiva IgM al egreso. Se realizó la fase descriptiva sexo, edad y posteriormente un análisis multivariado de las variables clínicas asociadas con evolución a dengue hemorrágico. Resultados: De los 88 pacientes, 22 evolucionaron a dengue hemorrágico y 66 a dengue clásico. 39.8 por ciento (n igual 35) masculinos, 60.2 por ciento (n igual 53) femeninos. La edad promedio en años 5.2 años los dengues hemorrágicos y 7.7 años los dengues clásicos. La estancia promedio en días: 4 para los diagnosticados por dengue hemorrágico y 2.7 los diagnosticados con dengue clásicos. Dolor abdominal y dolor retroocular son los predictores independientes de dengue hemorrágico en niños. Los hallazgos de ultrasonido fueron ascitis en 45 por ciento (n igual 10) y 55 por ciento (n igual 12) además de ascitis, derrame pleural y edema de vesícula. Conclusiones: Dolor abdominal y retroocular detectados al ingreso son los predictores independientes de dengue hemorrágico.

Enhancing knowledge and awareness of dengue during a prospective study of dengue fever.

In 1992, the Indonesian CDC implemented strategies to control and prevent dengue fever (DF) by including community involvement to reduce larva breeding sites and a mass health education program. To contribute to this effort, we incorporated an educational component into a prospective study of DF conducted at two textile factories in Bandung. This education provided: a lecture on the signs and symptoms of dengue and ways to prevent the disease, posters in the health clinic at each factory and handouts given to each volunteer with an explanation of symptoms. Upon enrollment, each participant completed a questionnaire to gather demographic information. Additionally they were given a brief (non-standardized) test (PRE-test) of their dengue knowledge, which was verbally administered by the study physicians. Five questions (15 point system) were designed to assess the participant's ability to recognize and describe aspects of dengue in lay terms. The subject material included: the symptoms of acute DF, transmission of dengue virus, and basic steps for disease prevention. The same questionnaire was re-administered 18 months later (POST-test), and the results were compared. A total of 2,340 participants completed both the PRE- and POST-tests; there were 1,373 males and 967 females, median age 36 years (range 18-59). Only 0.3% of participants scored EXCELLENT (15-14 points) on the PRE-test whereas 8.4% scored EXCELLENT on the POST-test. Fewer participants scored VERY BAD (2-0 points) on the POST-test compared to the PRE-test (1.4% vs 4.0%). The average raw scores for the PRE- and POST-tests were 7.8 and 10.1, respectively. Improvement of individual scores correlated highly with educational level. No significant correlation was identified for gender, age, factory location or a diagnosis of dengue during the study. These findings demonstrate that our prospective study enhanced knowledge and awareness of dengue in the volunteers.

Dengue / Dengue

Os autores realizam uma breve discussão sobre a infecção pelo vírus dengue, como forma de proporcionar um melhor panorama do estado atual do problema.

Morbitz type I second degree AV block during recovery from dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Two patients with serologically-proven dengue virus infection and Morbitz type I second degree atrioventricular (AV) block are described. A 7 years old boy (patient 1) with grade 2 and a 7 years old girl (patient 2) with grade 3 illness were admitted to the hospital on the 3rd and the 5th day of the illness, respectively. Both had typical resentation for dengue hemorrhagic fever including fever, hepatomegaly, thrombocytopenia and signs of extravascular leakage. The 7 year old girl also had epistaxis and anemia (Hct 24%). Morbitz type I second degree and 2:1 AV block developed on day 7 (patient 1) and day 8 (patient 2) of the illness, both during recovery periods. Patient 1 also had occasional monomorphic premature ventricular contraction (PVC). There was no other abnormality in the 12-lead EKGS and echocardiograms showed normal ventricular systolic function in both. Other than mild hypokalemia (3.3 and 3.4 mgq/l), serum electrolytes were normal. Neither patients had elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK). In patient 1, exercise (on day 10) normalized AV conduction and abolished the PVC. Follow up EKG and physical examination at 10 months after the illness was normal. The rhythm in patient 2 resolved to 1st degree AV block (with occasional morbitz type I second degree at night) on day 12. In this patient, exercise resulted in shortening of the PR interval and Valsalva maneuver resulted in further PR prolongation. The patient was well at 1-month follow up with a mormal EKG. Morbitz type I second degree AV block during recovery from dengue hemorrhagic fever may be a transient functional impairment of the AV node, in which altered autonomic tone may play a role.

Dengue hemorrágica / Dengue haemorrhagic fever

A dengue hemorrágica/síndrome do choque da dengue (DH/SCD) é uma arbovirose de notificaçäo compulsória provocada por um vírus da família Flavovirae que apresenta quatro subtipos. É transmitida principalmente pelo mosquito Aedes aegypti. Ela se caracteriza por uma febre alta de início repentino, trombocitopenia, hemoconcentraçäo, exudaçäo de plasma, tendência ao choque e às manifestaçöes hemorrágicas. Outros sintomas como artralgia, mialgia e dor retrocular também podem ocorrer. Sua principal hipótese de ocorrência é uma reinfecçäo por um vírus, heteróloga, ou seja, é uma infecçäo secundária por um vírus diferente da primeira infecçäo. Atinge principalmente crianças, asiáticos e caucasianos e é endêmica em alguns países do mundo, principalmente no sudeste asiático. Pode, na ocorrência de choque, levar ao óbito entre 12 a 24 horas. Por isso, o diagnóstico rápido e preciso é indispensável, consistindo basicamente na anamnese, exame físico e exames laboratoriais como o hemograma. Na clínica, devem ser observados sinais de aumento da permeabilidade vascular. No choque pode ocorrer bradicardia. O trratamento se dá basicamente através da infusäo de soro e a prevençäo deve ser feita, principalmente combatendo o mosquito (com a eliminaçäo de criadouros, pulverizaçöes, uso de larvicidas) e através de vacinas; contudo estas ainda estäo em estudo.(au)

Dengue: conduta no acompanhamento de pacientes: mais um desafio ao Sistema Único de Saúde / Dengue: conduct in fellow of patients: more a chalenger: for Health Unic System

A dengue é hoje uma doença que acomete quase todo o País e com a qual os profissionais de saúde ainda não estão familiarizados. Em 1996 o Ministério da Saúde lançou o Manual de Dengue, no qual apresenta uma proposta de acompanhamento para os pacientes com suspeita clínica da doença. Objetiva-se, com isso, orientar os médicos do atendimento, do local ideal de atendimento, respeitando-se os níveis de complexidade do sistema de saúde e da doença. A conduta sobre a solicitação de exames, orientações e plano terapêutico e a necessidade de retorno agendado são também abordados. É preciso deixar claro que isto não é uma classificação de doença, mas sim uma proposta de estadiamento do momento em que se observa o paciente, podendo este, durante a evolução da doença, perpassar vários estágios ou não. Será abordada a necessidade de consulta médica, ou seja, deve haver diagnóstico e as consultas subseqüentes. Do ponto de vista de um único paciente isto pode parecer fácil, mas se lembrarmos que estas epidemias são explosivas, que a equipe de saúde ainda tem pouco domínio sobre o manejo destes pacientes e que o sistema de saúde está frágil e sucateado, veremos então o enorme risco para as nossas populações. Este trabalho é o somatório da revisão da literatura e da experiência adquirida no manejo dos pacientes com dengue no Manicípio de Niterói ao longo dos anos

Princípios da imunopatogenia do dengue hemorrágico / Beginnings of imunopathogeny of hemorragic dengue

Muito se tem estudado a patogenia da febre do dengue hemorrágico (DHF) e síndrome de choque do dengue (DSS), principalmente no que se refere às alterações hemorrágicas e aquelas que levam ao quadro do choque. Diversas são as teorias propostas para explicar essas alterações: 1. que os efeitos patológicos ocorreriam a partir de um aumento na produção de anticorpos, adquiridos durante uma infecção prévia a um dos diversos tipos de vírus de dengue; 2. que a infecção secundária em um indivíduo portador de anticorpos antidengue não-neutralizantes efetivaria uma respostas imune e uma elevação dos níveis de anticorpos, contra uma nova carga de vírus de dengue, e que os anticorpos, ligando-se aos vírus, dirigiriam um ataque seletivo do sistema complemento sobre as células que expressam antígenos virais na sua superfície; 3. também se teoriza a respeito da virulência aumentada de diferentes cepas de vírus, por passagens sucessivas em indivíduos, durante as diversas epidemias. Porém é difícil encontrar nos compêndios acadêmicos e livros-textos de Infectologia a discussão aprofundada das diversas teorias que tentam explicar a patogenia das manifestações da DHF ou das DSS. O trabalho compila informações de diversos autores referentes às respostas imunes relativas ao vírus do dengue, as quais determinariam as ações patogênicas, e objetiva fornecer subsídios teóricos para melhor compreensão das mesmas

Dengue hemorrágico emergencia pediátrica en el Huila

El dengue hemorrágico (DH) hizo su aparición en el Huila en 1992, desarrollándose la primera epidemia con 125 casos, la mayoría de éstos, en niños. El impacto en la población infantil ha sido evidente y persistente hasta hoy, cuando vivimos el segundo brote con 246 niños afectados, encontrando una mortalidad del 4.5 por ciento. Para observar las características clínicas de los pacientes con DH en esta segunda epidemia, se realizó un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo; se tuvieron en cuenta todos los niños hospitalizados en dos grandes instituciones asistenciales de Neiva, con diagnóstico clínico y comprobación serológica de DH en el año de 1997. En el 72 por ciento de los pacientes afectados, los síntomas se localizaron en el abdomen consistentes en: dolor intenso y progresivo, vómito, hepatomegalia y ascitis. Algunos casos asociados a hemorragia del tracto gastrointestinal. Un hecho importante, relacionado con la severidad del estado clínico fue la presencia, tiempo de instauración y severidad de derrames serosos (pleurales, peritoneales y pericárdicos) en el 40 por ciento de los casos. Estos derrames, se instauraron rápidamente, lo cual es reflejo de la severidad de la fuga vascular, llevando incluso al 30 por ciento de los pacientes a Shock Dengue Hemorrágico (SSD). 45 casos se presentaron en niños menores de dos años, lo que representa el 19 por ciento de los niños con DH. Sin embargo, el 50 por ciento de los niños que murieron, correspondieron a este grupo de edad. En conclusión, nos enfrentamos a una segunda epidemia considerablemente más severa por el mayor número de pacientes afectados, más casos de shock, lo que pudo estar relacionado con la virulencia del serotipo viral circulante. Los hallazgos abdominales se convirtieron en datos cardinales para el pronóstico ya que, sobre todo, la velocidad y la severidad con la que se se instauraron estos signos fueron predictivos de shock y complicaciones fatales.