Clinical profile of dengue in patients consulting a tertiary hospital in the city of Cali, Colombia, 2013

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue virus infection is amongst the most important arboviral diseases in the country and has become a major global public health concern. Objective: To describe the clinical profile of patients with dengue virus infection hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in the city of Cali, Colombia. We also describe the trend analysis of the number of cases by epidemiological weeks in 2013. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective study of admitted patients suspected to have dengue infection in the Rafael Uribe Uribe Clinic in the year 2013. Patients with serological confirmation of dengue infection were classified according to the World Health Organization classification. Subsequently, the clinical parameters of the patients with dengue were described. Results: Of the 1,173 patients with suspected dengue, 287 (24.5%) were confirmed serologically; 152 (53%) were women and 135 (47%) males; 40.1% had no warning signs, 3.8% had warning signs and 25.1% had severe manifestations. The most common symptoms were fever (287;100%), myalgia (223;78%), and headache (183:64%). Hemorrhagic manifestations were recorded in 100 (34.8%) patients; 4 (1.4%) had neurological manifestations. Three deaths (0.7%) were reported, two of which were associated with sickle cell disease. Conclusions: The severe form of the infection and mortality from dengue reported during the outbreak was more frequent in the pediatric population. It is suggested to implement strategies to ensure specific attention to patients with comorbidities such as sickle cell disease.