A study on gender-related differences in laboratory characteristics of dengue fever

Epidemiological investigation of dengue fever outbreak and its socioeconomic determinants in Banadir region, Somalia

BACKGROUND

Dengue has become an alarming global problem and is endemic in many countries, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries. The aim of this study was to investigate dengue fever outbreak in Banadir Region, Somalia, to understand the risk factors (time, place, personal characteristics).

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the levels of circulating anti-dengue virus antibodies and DENV NS1 antigen among Banadir Region residents, while a questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients.

RESULTS

A total of 735 febrile patients were studied, with 55.6% men and 44.3% women. The majority of the participants were children aged 14 years and younger. Among them, 10.8% tested positive for IgM antibodies against dengue virus (DENV), while the prevalence of DENV NS1 antigen was 11.8%. Fever and myalgia were the most common symptoms observed in the DENV-positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A dengue fever outbreak has been confirmed in Banadir region, Somalia. This study provides information on the most affected districts and identifies risk factors contributing to DF outbreaks. The study recommends improving outbreak readiness and response, particularly in surveillance and laboratory diagnostics, by fostering intersectoral collaboration and establishing regulatory frameworks for financial and operational participation.

Assessment of perceived dengue risk and prevention practices among youth in Bangladesh

Dengue fever is a global public health concern, especially in countries like Bangladesh. This study examines youth perceived dengue risk, and preventive practices, providing valuable insights into their behavior regarding this mosquito-borne disease. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in various regions of the Dhaka district in Bangladesh. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,358 participants using convenience sampling, spanning the period from September 2 to October 10, 2023. A semi-structured questionnaire covered informed consent, socio-demographic data, and questions about perceived dengue risk scale (12 items), and prevention practice (13 items). Participants' mean age was 22.02 ± 1.58 years. The average scores for perceived dengue risk, and prevention practices were found to be 51.39 ± 12.01 (out of 96), and 55.57 ± 14.55 (out of 104) respectively. Previous dengue history, history of other vector-borne diseases, gender, educational level, father's educational qualification, employment status, adequate sleep duration, father's occupation, etc. are factors associated with higher risk and prevention practices regarding dengue. The research underscores the importance of tailoring prevention strategies for different demographics, raising awareness, and promoting active engagement in preventive measures. These insights are crucial for developing effective public health policies and campaigns to combat dengue.

Unmasking the Hidden Threat of Cardiac Involvement in Dengue Fever: A Critical Longitudinal Study

INTRODUCTION

Dengue fever (DF) arises from the dengue virus (DENV), a common viral illness transmitted by arthropods. This medical condition has the potential to result in severe complications, including but not limited to liver failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, dengue encephalopathy, myocarditis, acute renal failure, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Evaluating cardiac manifestations in dengue is crucial for timely intervention and intensive care to save patients' lives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A longitudinal study involved 104 dengue fever patients admitted to the Department of Medicine at New Civil Hospital, Surat, between May 2021 and October 2021, to identify potential cardiac involvement.

RESULTS

The study found that out of the 104 patients, 28 (26.92%) showed cardiac involvement based on clinical manifestations. Among these patients, 28 (26.92%) exhibited abnormal ECG results, and 39 (37.50%) showed elevated creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels. Of the 28 patients who showed ECG changes, 14 (50%) displayed abnormal 2D-echocardiography (ECHO) results. The most common electrocardiographic anomaly was a T-wave inversion in V1-V4. The predominant 2D-ECHO finding was mild pericardial effusion.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac involvement in dengue presents atypically and can lead to conditions like myocarditis, arrhythmias, cardiac failure, or shock. Assessing cardiac manifestations in dengue patients is pivotal for appropriate management.

Liver function in dengue and its correlation with disease severity: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study in a tertiary care center in Coastal India

Introduction

dengue, the most important arthropod- borne disease is transmitted to humans by mosquitos of the Aedes family. Liver dysfunction in dengue varies from mild injury with elevation of transaminases to severe hepatocyte injury. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of hepatic dysfunction in patients with dengue and to correlate between the severity of the disease with the extent of hepatic dysfunction.

Methods

retrospective cross-sectional observational study including 120 patients with confirmed dengue serology admitted in Medicine Department of Father Muller Medical College during November 2018-December 2019. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, clinical signs, laboratory parameters such as complete blood count, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), total and direct bilirubin; serum albumin and globulin levels were collected. Patients were categorized based on the modified WHO classification of 2009 into dengue with or without the warning signs and severe dengue. Comparison of multiple means across disease severity was performed using One Way-ANOVA with post hoc analysis using least significant difference. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to calculate the correlation between transaminases and platelet count. P-value <0.05 and CI 95% were considered in all analyses.

Results

serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase was elevated in 66.7%, 78.6% and 91.7% patients of dengue without warning signs, warning signs and severe dengue respectively. Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase was elevated in 42.4%, 52.4% and 91.7% patients of dengue without warning signs, warning signs and severe dengue respectively. Patients with elevated SGOT (93.8%) and SGPT (81.2%) had a higher incidence of bleeding manifestations. Hypoalbuminemia (50.8%) and A: G ratio reversal (27.3%) was significantly more in severe dengue (p<0.0001). Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase levels negatively correlated with platelet count (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

liver involvement in the form of elevated transaminases was found in 74.2% dengue patients. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase level increases with increase in dengue severity which is indicated by fall in platelet count as they are negatively correlated with each other. Liver damage is one of the common complications of dengue and transaminitis, hypoalbuminemia and reversal of A: G ratio should be used as biochemical markers in dengue patients to detect and monitor hepatic dysfunction.

The antiviral effect of metformin on zika and dengue virus infection

The Dengue (DENV) and zika (ZIKV) virus infections are currently a public health concern. At present, there is no treatment or a safe and effective vaccine for these viruses. Hence, the development of new strategies as host-directed therapy is required. In this sense, Metformin (MET), an FDA-approved drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has shown an anti-DENV effect in vitro by activating AMPK and reducing HMGCR activity. In this study, MET treatment was evaluated during in vitro and in vivo ZIKV infection and compared to MET treatment during DENV infection. Our results demonstrated that MET has a broad in vitro antiviral spectrum. MET inhibited ZIKV infection in different cell lines, but it was most effective in inhibiting DENV and yellow fever virus (YFV) infection in Huh-7 cells. However, the drug failed to protect against ZIKV infection when AG129 immunodeficient mice were used as in vivo model. Interestingly, MET increased DENV-infected male mice's survival time, reducing the severe signs of the disease. Together, these findings indicate that, although MET was an effective antiviral agent to inhibit in vitro and in vivo DENV infection, it could only inhibit in vitro ZIKV infection.

Clinical Symptoms of Arboviruses in Mexico

Arboviruses such as Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) have emerged as a significant public health concern in Mexico. The existing literature lacks evidence regarding the dispersion of arboviruses, thereby limiting public health policy's ability to integrate the diagnosis, management, and prevention. This study seeks to reveal the clinical symptoms of CHIK, DENV, and ZIKV by age group, region, sex, and time across Mexico. The confirmed cases of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV were compiled from January 2012 to March 2020. Demographic characteristics analyzed significant clinical symptoms of confirmed cases. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between clinical symptoms and geographical regions. Females and individuals aged 15 and older had higher rates of reported significant symptoms across all three arboviruses. DENV showed a temporal variation of symptoms by regions 3 and 5, whereas ZIKV presented temporal variables in regions 2 and 4. This study revealed unique and overlapping symptoms between CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV. However, the differentiation of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV is difficult, and diagnostic facilities are not available in rural areas. There is a need for adequately trained healthcare staff alongside well-equipped lab facilities, including hematological tests and imaging facilities.

Prevalence of Dengue Fever in Western Uttar Pradesh, India: A Gender-Based Study

Objective

Gender-based serologic differences for nonstructural protein 1(NS1) antigen (Ag) and IgM antibody (Ab) detection have been reported among cases of dengue in few studies. However, to understand its distribution with patient's gender and their demographic profile, this study is designed to fill the gaps in the available gender based data, and is the first from this region.

Materials and Methods

A total of 4252 blood samples were collected aseptically during the outbreaks of 2016-17. Serum was separated and processed for dengue ELISA (NS1Ag and IgM Ab). All the relevant clinical data and variables such as gender and their demographic profile were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 978 (23%) patients were found seropositive either by NS1 Ag or IgM Ab ELISA. The proportion of male was higher than female among all seropositive cases, with the ratio of (M:F) 1.54:1 (P < 0.0001). The males were predominately more affected compared to females among rural (P = 0.001) and semi-urban (P = 0.016) areas. The positive NS1 (P = 0.004) and IgM (P = 0.0001) both results were significantly associated with male gender.

Conclusion

Every case of dengue must be screened for NS1Ag and IgMAb to increase the diagnostic precision, despite the males being more affected as compared to females due to sociocultural differences.

Detection of Dengue viruses among febrile patients in Lagos, Nigeria and phylogenetics of circulating Dengue serotypes in Africa

Dengue fever, a mosquito borne viral disease, is caused by Dengue virus. This virus and its vector is endemic in most tropical countries including Nigeria. Dengue presents with febrile symptoms and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in affected countries. The infection presently has no licensed drugs and vaccine is only available for previously exposed individuals. Despite the endemicity of Dengue in Nigeria, very few studies have identified circulating Dengue genotypes in the country. There is also sparse information on the occurrence, distribution and temporal patterns of circulating dengue virus serotypes as well as genotypes in Africa. This situation creates barriers to effective control of the infection in the continent. This study identified Dengue serotypes and genotypes among febrile patients in two health centers in Lagos, Nigeria. Phylogenetic analysis of Dengue sequences previously collected from African countries and submitted to GenBank database from 1944 till date was also performed. One hundred and thirty febrile persons were recruited for the study between April and August 2018. Eleven (8.5%) persons were Dengue virus positive. Dengue virus serotypes 1 (genotype I) and 3 (genotype I) were identified as actively circulating in Lagos, Nigeria. DENV 1 genotype V, DENV 2 cosmopolitan genotype and DENV 3 genotype III has over the years been the predominant circulating Dengue strains in Africa. Relative genotypic stability of circulating Dengue serotypes in Africa occurred over the past five decades. This may be due to limited investigations on circulating Dengue serotypes among asymptomatic individuals in the region as most studies focused on disease outbreaks and imported cases. There is the need to describe circulating Dengue genotypes in northern Africa, southern Africa as well as among asymptomatic individuals in other parts of Africa as this will provide further information on the diversity of Dengue genotypes circulating in the region.