Clinical and Serological Study of First Large Epidemic of Dengue in and around Lucknow, India, in 2003

Dengue, an important human arboviral infection, is endemic in many parts of India. Its outbreaks are now reported quite frequently from different parts of the country. A large epidemic of febrile illness occurred in Lucknow between September–December 2003. A total of 428 indoor/outdoor patients were enrolled in the study and investigated for dengue-specific IgM antibodies; 184 (43%) were found positive for acute dengue infection. Demographic and clinical features as well as laboratory profiles were studied for 100 indoor patients who were positive for dengue-specific IgM antibodies. Of these 100 cases, 46 were classified as dengue fever (DF), 41 as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), and 13 as dengue shock syndrome (DSS) strictly according to WHO case definitions. Males were more commonly affected and the maximum number of cases were over 15 years of age. Fever and vomiting were the most frequent symptoms. Interestingly, hepatomegaly was found to be more common in the DF group. Mean haematocrit (P=0.050) and platelet count (P=012) were the only laboratory parameters that were significantly different in the DHF/DSS and DF groups