Dengue outbreak 2013: Clinical profile of patients presenting at DHQ Burner and THQ Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

We evaluated the clinical features, disease severity, laboratory findings and outcome of serologically confirmed cases of Dengue fever in Patients during the recent outbreak in two districts (Buner & Shangla) in 2013, Khyber Pkhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We encountered 320 cases of Dengue fever during 5 months period (July to November, 2013). The dengue infection rate in females (180: 56%.2) was higher as compared to males (140: 43.8%). The dengue infections were more frequently seen in the post-monsoon season than in the monsoon period. The death ratio in the overall weighted prevalence was 0%. All the patients suffered
from fever but no specific pattern could be identified, degree was variable ranging from low to high grade. Abdominal pain was the next most common symptom followed by vomiting and diarrhea. Only (45%) patients complained of body aches and pains, (30%) patients had hemorrhagic manifestations in the form of gum bleed, and (05%) patients had melena while (15%) patient’s complained of skin rashes. The most common clinical sign was the Enlarged liver that was present in (75%) patients. There is critical need for
molecular and entomological surveillance of dengue among the dengue epidemics-prone areas to eliminate the disease.