Prevalence of gastrointestinal sign and symptom in dengue fever: observation in 120 Thai cases

How to cite this article:
Yasri S, Wiwanitkitk V. Prevalence of gastrointestinal sign and symptom in dengue fever: observation in 120 Thai cases. Ann Trop Med Public Health 2014;7:145

 

How to cite this URL:
Yasri S, Wiwanitkitk V. Prevalence of gastrointestinal sign and symptom in dengue fever: observation in 120 Thai cases. Ann Trop Med Public Health [serial online] 2014 [cited 2017 Nov 14];7:145. Available from: https://www.atmph.org/text.asp?2014/7/2/145/146442

Dear Sir,

Dengue is a very high prevalence tropical infection in Southeast Asia. Thousands of infected cases can be seen each year. The main presentation of this infection is acute febrile illness with hemorrhagic presentations. However, there are some additional uncommon presentations, and this can lead to difficulty in diagnosis. [1] Of those uncommon clinical features, gastrointestinal sign and symptom in dengue fever is interesting. [2] Recently, Durαn et al. reported many gastrointestinal presentations which are relating to the severity in the patients with dengue infections. [2] Here, the authors try to summarize the prevalence of gastrointestinal sign and symptom in dengue fever observed in 120 Thai cases during an outbreak in 2013. [2] Of 120 cases in our center, 84 cases (70%) have gastrointestinal sign and symptom. Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and melena passing can be seen in 64 (53.3%), 26 (21.7%), 18 (15%), 8 (6.7%) cases, respectively (some patients have more than one sign and symptom). As seen in the present report, abdominal pain is the most common finding, and this finding is concordant with previous reports in other settings. [2],[3],[4] For the general practitioner, it should be noted that gastrointestinal presentation might be the first and single presentation of dengue. [2] It is overlooked and delayed or missed diagnosis of possible. Since up to two-third of the patients might have gastrointestinal disorder, it is wise to include dengue as a differential diagnosis in any patients, in the tropical area, presenting with gastrointestinal disorder.

References

 

1.
Wiwanitkit V. Dengue fever: Diagnosis and treatment. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2010;8:841-5.
2.
Durán A, Ochoa E, Alcocer S, Gómez M, Millano M, Martínez O, et al. Frequency of gastrointestinal signs and symptoms of dengue. Analysis of a cohort of 1484 patients. Invest Clin 2013;54:299-310.
3.
Pires Neto Rda J, de Sá SL, Pinho SC, Pucci FH, Teófilo CR, Evangelista PD, et al. Dengue infection in children and adolescents: Clinical profile in a reference hospital in northeast Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2013;46:765-8.
4.
Ramos-De La Medina A, Remes-Troche JM, González-Medina MF, Anitúa-Valdovinos Mdel M, Cerón T, Zamudio C, et al. Abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms of Dengue fever. Analysis of a cohort of 8559 patients. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011;34:243-7.

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

Check

DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.146442

Paul Mies has now been involved with test reports and comparing products for a decade. He is a highly sought-after specialist in these areas as well as in general health and nutrition advice. With this expertise and the team behind atmph.org, they test, compare and report on all sought-after products on the Internet around the topics of health, slimming, beauty and more. The results are ultimately summarized and disclosed to readers.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here