Clinical Assessment of Dermatological Manifestations of Dengue Fever in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh

Objective

To see the various dermatological manifestations in case of dengue fever.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital setting over a span of 12 months, specifically from June 2022 to June 2023. The study focused on 150 cases of dengue fever between the age range of 16 months to 65 years, who exhibited symptoms and signs indicative of dengue fever. The febrile illness was accompanied by laboratory findings of progressive thrombocytopenia, elevated hepatic transaminase levels, and the presence of detectable dengue IgM and virus-expressed soluble main-structural protein (NSI). These findings were determined using the Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) method, specifically the Panbio Dengue Duo-Cassette. Other serologic tests yielded negative results, and blood cultures were found to be sterile. The diagnosis of dengue fever (DF) was confirmed through seroconversion of convalescent sera. The collected data were entered into the computer and analyzed by using SPSS (version 20.1) Results: Among the sample of 150 patients, it was observed that 97 individuals (64.67%) were identified as males, while the remaining 53 individuals (35.33%) were identified as girls. The average age of the patients was 35.20 years. Out of the total sample size of 150 patients, 45 individuals (30%) exhibited no observable skin findings, while 105 patients (70%) presented with skin abnormalities. The most often observed skin manifestation was pruritus, which was present in 35 patients (44.47%). This was followed by facial flushing, which was reported in 19 patients (24.37%). petechial rash and burning sensation were observed in 7 (8.97%) and 10 (12.82%) of the patients). Of the observed mucosal abnormalities, ocular involvement was the most prevalent, observed in six patients, accounting for 22.22% of the total sample.

Conclusion

The presence of cutaneous and mucosal symptoms constitutes a significant aspect of dengue fever. These findings additionally contribute to the evaluation of illness progression. The subject matter under consideration pertains to the medical condition known as dengue fever, with a specific focus on its cutaneous manifestations.