We describe a 5-year-old girl who had sudden onset difficulty in walking after 3 days of febrile illness. In the emergency department her creatine kinase level was elevated but urine myoglobin was normal. She was diagnosed as having benign acute childhood myositis. Because of poor oral intake and dehydration, she was admitted to the pediatric ward. The next day she had a petechial rash over the antecubital fossa, and dengue IgM back was positive. She was treated conservatively and recovered uneventfully. Despite dengue fever being endemic in Malaysia, this is the first case report of myositis following dengue infection in Malaysia.
This study explored the contribution of viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in dengue-like illness (DLI) patients and their distinguishing clinicolaboratory parameters. Two hundred DLI patients were prospectively recruited (July 1- October 1, 2019) from a community clinic in Southern Malaysia. Patients ≥ 18 years with acute fever and fulfilling the WHO criteria of probable dengue were recruited. They underwent blood testing: blood counts, rapid dengue tests (nonstructural antigen-1/IgM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and Leptospira. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) were collected for FilmArray®RP2plus testing. From the 200 NPSs, 58 respiratory viruses (RVs) were detected in 54 patients. Of the 96 dengue-confirmed cases, 86 had dengue mono-infection, and 10 were coinfected with RVs. Of the 104 nondengue, 44 were RV positive and 4 Leptospira positive. Zika and chikungunya virus were not detected. Overall, the etiological diagnosis was confirmed for 72% of patients. Clinicolaboratory parameters were compared between dengue mono-infection and VRI mono-infection. Patients with coinfections were excluded. Multiple logistic regression showed that recent household/neighborhood history of dengue (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 5.9, 95% CI = 1.7-20.7), leukopenia (aOR: 12.5, 95% CI = 2.6-61.4) and thrombocytopenia (aOR: 5.5, 95% CI = 1.3-23.0) predicted dengue. Inversely, rhinorrhoea (aOR: 0.1, 95% CI = 0.01-0.3) and cough (aOR: 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1-0.9) favored VRI. Thus, VRIs comprise many infections diagnosed initially as DLIs. Early clinicolaboratory parameters can guide physicians screen patients for further testing.
Virus associated haemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS), a distinct clinico-pathologic entity, is characterised by systemic proliferation of non-neoplastic histotiocytes showing haemophagocytosis resulting in blood cytopaenia. It has been described in relation to several viruses earlier. Here we describe a young girl who developed this reactive process during the course of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF).
A 24 year-old Malay lady presented with high grade fever, myalgia, generalized rashes, severe headache and was positive for dengue serology test. Her lowest platelet count was 45 × 10(9) cells/L. She complained of sudden onset of painlessness, profound loss of vision bilaterally 7 days after the onset of fever. On examination, her right eye best corrected vision was 6/30 and left eye was 6/120. Her anterior segment examination was unremarkable. Funduscopy revealed there were multiple retinal haemorrhages found at posterior pole of both fundi and elevation at fovea area with subretinal fluid. Systemic examination revealed normal findings except for residual petechial rashes. She was managed conservatively. Her vision improved tremendously after 2 months. The retinal hemorrhages and foveal elevation showed sign of resolving. Ocular manifestations following dengue fever is rare. However, bilateral visual loss can occur if both fovea are involved.
While electrocardiogram (ECG) changes are common during viral dengue infection, atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very rare manifestation. It has previously been highlighted that cardiac complications during dengue infection are invariably transient and will spontaneously resolve following recovery from the illness. We present the case of a young patient with IgM- and IgG-positive dengue hemorrhagic fever complicated by AF. ECG revealed a structurally normal heart. The patient remained in AF despite resolution of the illness. Reversion to normal sinus rhythm was achieved after loading of oral amiodarone.
As well as dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever-dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), other atypical manifestations of dengue virus infection have also been reported. The frequency of CNS involvement in dengue remains unknown, although isolated cases with neurological manifestations have been reported in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Burma, Puerto Rico and India. We present two cases of encephalitis associated with DF and DHF from New Delhi, India.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestations and outcome of acute liver failure (ALF) associated with dengue viral infection, a rare but severe complication.
METHODS: One hundred and fifty five consecutive patients with ALF admitted to the national liver centre from 2001 to 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Eight cases due to dengue infection were identified and their clinical characteristics are described.
RESULTS: All patients had severe dengue with one dengue shock syndrome. The median (minimum, maximum) age was 33.5 (17, 47) years with 50% female. The median (minimum, maximum) duration from the onset of fever to development of ALF was 7.5 (5, 13) days and the maximum hepatic encephalopathy (HE) grade were III in five patients and II in three patients. Three patients had systemic inflammatory responses (SIRS) on admission and were in grade III HE. The presence of SIRS on admission was associated with higher grade of HE and its development during the course of hospitalization was associated with worsening HE grade. The hepatitis was characterized by marked elevations in: alanine transaminase [median admission 1140.5 u/L (639, 4161); median peak 2487 u/L (998, 5181)], serum bilirubin [median admission 29 μmol/L (23, 291); median peak 127 μmol/L (72, 592)], and prothrombin time [median admission 16.8s (15.3, 26.2); median peak 22s (15.3, 40.7)]. The survival rate with standard medical therapy alone was 100%.
CONCLUSIONS: Dengue associated ALF manifest about one week after the onset of fever with severe hepatitis and encephalopathy. In our experience, the outcome with standard medical therapy alone is excellent.
Dengue Viral Infection (DVI) imperils an estimated 2.5 billion people living in tropical and subtropical regions. World Health Organization (2011) guidelines also classified dengue as 'Expanded Dengue Syndrome' to incorporate wide spectrum of unusual manifestations of dengue infection affecting various organ systems - including liver, kidney, heart and brain. Renal involvements are least appreciated area of dengue infection, therefore, we systematically reviewed studies describing renal disorders in dengue infection, with emphasis on Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The purpose of current review is to underscore clinicians’attention to this neglected intricacy of DVI. It suggests that dengue induced renal involvements vary from glomerulonephritis, nephrotic range proteinuria and AKI. We observed great disparity in incidence of AKI among dengue patients, based upon criteria used to define AKI. AKI among dengue patients was found to be associated with significant morbidity, mortality and longer hospitalization, adding financial burden to patients and healthcare system. Additionally, we identified several predictors of AKI in dengue patients including old age, obesity, severe dengue infection and concurrent bacterial or viral infection. Direct viral injury and deposition of antigen-antibody complex in glomerulus were found to be possible causes of renal disorders in dengue infection. Prior knowledge of clinico-laboratory characteristics and risk factors with early detection of AKI by using appropriate criteria would not only reduce morbidity and mortality but also decrease burden to patients and healthcare system.
A 17-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with dengue fever. On the ninth day of fever she developed haemoptysis and chest X-ray changes consistent with haemorrhage in her lungs. Thrombocytopaenia and mild coagulopathy were the most likely cause of this unusual haemoptysis in this patient. Investigations excluded other causes for the haemoptysis.
A case of prolonged thrombocytopenia following dengue haemorrhagic fever in a 15 year old boy is reported. The mechanism was presumed to be immunological and he responded dramatically to oral prednisolone.
Dengue fever is endemic in Malaysia with frequent epidemics especially in urban areas. This infection can present in a wide range of severity, from a nonspecific febrile illness to life threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. It is worth noting that dengue haemorrhagic fever comprised 11.2% of all reported cases in Malaysia in 1991.Patients tend to consult their primary care physicians early. It is the duty of the primary care physicians to make an accurate diagnosis and to detect the complications. However, there has not been any known reliable predictor for the occurrence of complications during the early stage of the illness. Hence, primary care physicians often face the problem of having to deal with this uncertainty. Referring all these patients to the hospitals for admission is obviously not practical but managing them at home may involve high risks. In order to assist primary care physicians, the Primary Care Unit in the University Hospital uses a set of guidelines for the outpatient management of the infection. These guidelines and their assessment will be discussed.
Study site: Primary Care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In dengue shock syndrome, an acute increase in capillary permeability results in leakage of plasma into the interstitial space. Pleural effusion is commonly seen in dengue shock syndrome. We report three cases of dengue-associated adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children, in all of whom dengue haemorrhagic fever, presenting with grade 3 or grade 4 dengue shock syndrome with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, was confirmed. The criteria for the diagnosis of ARDS were based on the expanded definition of ARDS by Murray et al. Treatment consisted of fluid resuscitation, correction of coagulopathy and mechanical ventilation. All three children had multi-organ impairment, but it was more severe in the two who died. The one survivor was well at discharge.
A retrospective study involving 102 adults with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was conducted to investigate the demographic aspect, clinical presenting features, laboratory investigations, complications, and mortality associated with the disease. The clinical diagnosis of DHF was in accordance with WHO recommendations. Epistaxis, gingivitis, haematemesis and gastritis were among the common complications. Platelet levels tended to decline from a higher value on admission (mean 67,000/mm3) to lower levels on subsequent days, with the lowest (mean 61,000/mm3) being on day 6 of the fever. Hyponatraemia (46.8%) was commonly observed. Morbidity of DHF was significant (29.4%) but the case fatality rate remained low (2.0%) in our adults, suggesting that adults are less likely than children to suffer from shock syndrome.
Analysis of the bleeding manifestations of 130 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever admitted into the Children's ward of the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur from May 1973 to September 1978 has been done. Petechial skin rash, epistaxis and gum bleeding were seen most commonly in mild and moderately severe cases. However, blood stained gastric aspirates, and severe haematemesis were seen in severe or very severe cases. Though with better vector control and preventive measures, a marked reduction in the incidence of the cases has been noted, severe cases were seen with symptoms of shock and gastrointestinal bleeding. These symptoms carried a bad prognosis. Among 15 children that died 10 had gastrointestinal bleeding and 2 had a disseminated intravascular coagulation defect. Lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes, low platelet count, low reticulocyte count and raised packed cell volume were the main haematological features seen in all these cases. All these features reverted to normal within a week. Mild evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation was seen in a number of cases, but severe features were seen only in four. Two cases improved as a result of heparin therapy.
We compared 53 patients with Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) who received preventive transfusions with 53 who did not. Significant differences in the development of pulmonary edema and length of hospitalization (P