Abstract

Dengue fever usually presents as an acute febrile illness with thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic complications. Thrombocytopenia can directly cause spontaneous bleeding in any organ, including the lung, in dengue patients; hence, pulmonary pathology is observed in fatal cases. Method: 60 patients aged between 18 to 65 years with confirmed dengue (RT-PCR for dengue) were studied. Elisa performed a CBC, hematocrit, liver profile, renal profile, and arterial blood gases, as well as stereological tests for IgM, IgG, and antibodies. Chest x-ray PA views CT scans (if necessary) were carried out. Results: Dengue fever patients who developed respiratory manifestations had 60 (100%) fever, 60 (100%) dyspnoea, 58 (96.6%) body pain, 8 (13.3%) vomiting, 53 (88.3%) headache, 39 (65%) retro orbital pain, 5 (8.3%) drowsiness, 55 (91.6%) shock, 32 (53.3%) cough, 34 (56.6%) hemoptysis, and 26 (43.3%) bleeding from other sites. Co-morbidities included chronic chest pain cardiac disease and renal disease and hepatic disease type-II DM in both DHF and DSS patients Thoracic presentations of ARDS, pulmonary haemorrhage, bilateral haemorrhage, and pleural effusion were observed in both DHF and DSS patients. Conclusion: In the present pragmatic study, it is confirmed that, though respiratory manifestations were not common among general dengue patients, but in severe dengue cases or fatal cases. The majority of fatalities were due to ARDS, pulmonary haemorrhage, pleural effusion, or bilateral pneumonia.

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