Emergence of dengue in Bangladesh

A total of 370 patients [male 242 and female 128] of dengue syndrome admitted in the medical units of Khulna medical college hospital from July to Dec. 2000 were studied. Age of the patients ranged from 2-70 yrs. Highest number of patients 230[62.16%] were from 1[st] to 3[rd] decade. Students [194], Housewives [55], businessmen [43] and preschool children [36] were the commonly affected group. Fever was the commonest presentation [100%], other symptoms were headache in 115 [31.08%], rash in 105 [28.37%], bodyache in 98 [26.48%], abdominal pain in 66 [17.83%], vomiting in 88 [23.78%] and retroorbital pain in 45 [12.16%] cases. Among the bleeding manifestations, commonest was haematemesis and melaena in 206 [55.67%] cases, gum bleeding in 61 [16.48%], conjunctival haemorrhage in 40 [10.81%]. Haematocrit was high and platelet count was low in majority of the cases. The patients were diagnosed as Dengue Fever [DF] 169 [45.67 %], Dengue haemorrhage fever [DHF] 185 [50%], and Dengue shock syndrome [DSS] 16 [43.2% cases. Out of 370 patients treated 350 [94.59%] recovered completely; 15 [4.05%] expired due to DHF and DSS