A 3 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON SERODIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE DENGUE INFECTION IN PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN CHENNAI. (2009-2011)

Abstract

Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic
fever (DFDHF) have become a serious
public health problem in many parts of India
in recent years. We report a retrospective
analysis of the dengue positivity in the
samples of suspected cases of dengue
fever for three years period (2009 to 2011)
at the Institute of Microbiology, Madras
Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government
General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India. Patients older than 12 years
were included in this study. Serum samples
from 3009 suspected cases (1678
male and 1331 female) were obtained.
Samples were subjected to IgM Capture
ELISA. Platelet count was noted from
every patient. Of the 3009 patients, 499
(16.58) were positive for dengue IgM antibody.
Statistically significant increase of
positive patients was noted during the year
2010 and 2011 when compared to 2009.
There was a noticeable increased occurrence
during the cooler months and during
the monsoon and post-monsoon months.
Significant proportion of patients
(28.26) belong to the age group of 20
years. Decrease in platelet count (1,
00,000cellsml) was found to be significantly
associated with dengue IgM positivity
cases. The dengue IgM seropositivity
among the suspected cases indicates active
dengue virus infection. Platelet count
can be used as a base line test for the diagnosis
of acute dengue infections at a
primary health care level. Continued surveillance
and monitoring of vector control
and disease prevalence is the want of the
day to prevent morbidity and mortality due
to dengue infection.