Dengue shock syndrome

ABSTRACT

A three-and-half-year old indian boy, who had returned from Madras, was admitted with fever of five days' duration, vomiting of two days and altered sensorium of three hours prior to hospitalisation. He was investigated and was .empirically commenced on therapy for possible enteric fever. Later a raised haematocrit, thrombocytopaenia. hypoalbuminaemia, bilateral pleural effusion and tender hepatomegaly, prompted us to revise the diagnosis to possible dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome [DHF/DSS], and this was subsequently confirmed by high titres of dengue virus antibodies. The child was treated conservatively, became asymptomatic and was sent home after ten days of hospitalisation. DHF/DSS remains a valid differential diagnosis in any child who presents with fever and circulatory collapse especially if there has been a visit to an endemic area. From our database, this is the first confirmed case of DHF/DSS from the Sultanate of Oman