A study of clinical manifestations and complications of dengue fever in medical college hospital

Background: Dengue, the most common arboviral disease worldwide is usually endemic but several epidemics have been recorded. Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades; about half of the world's population is now at risk. The situation in India is reflected by occurrence of major disease outbreaks from time to time over the last few decades. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to observe the various clinical manifestations and complications of dengue fever. Materials and Methods: Study included 100 patients admitted to medicine ward in medical college hospital for a period of 6 months with symptoms and signs suggestive of dengue fever and those positive for NS1Ag, IgM and IgG dengue antibodies using Rapid strip test. Results: Among 100 patients observed, majority cases were dengue fever (92%) with no mortality, 5% were dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with mortality 20% and 3% were dengue shock syndrome (DSS) with mortality 67%. 71 were males and 29 were females with sex ratio 2.5:1. Maximum patients were in the age group of 18-30years. Most common clinical manifestations were fever (100%), headache (90%), abdominal pain (72%), arthralgia (65%), myalgia (64%), hepatomegaly (52%) and splenomegaly (41%). Thrombocytopenia (84%) is the most common hematological abnormality observed. Among serology positivity, majority were positive for NS1 antigen (81%), followed by IgM antibodies (7%) and mixed positivity (12%). Most common complication observed was hepatic dysfunction (33%). Conclusion: Dengue infection is common viral infection with varying clinical manifestations from region to region and epidemic to epidemic. Even though no specific treatment available for dengue fever but early diagnosis and timely intervention will prevent complications and mortality from dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.

Degradation of the herbicide diclofop-methyl in soil and influence of pesticide mixtures on its persistence.

The degradation of the herbicide [14C]-diclofopmethyl was investigated in moist parabrown podzol soil at 22°C. Radiochemical procedures were used to monitor the herbicide breakdown. The mineralization of the uniformly labelled aromatic ring was pursued by trapping the 14CO2 generated for 96 days. Diclofop-methyl was rapidly degraded in the soil with a half-life of about 8 days. The major breakdown product was the corresponding aciddiclofop, formed by a very rapid hydrolysis of the esterbond. With time the acid appeared to undergo strong binding or complexing to the soil. An intermediate 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol was recovered from the treated soil. Concentration of the phenoxyphenol increased upto 6 days followed by quick decline. Insecticide combination of parathion + Demeton-Smethylsulphoxide partially inhibited diclofop degradation in the soil.