European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Dengue fever is a viral illness caused by one of the four serotypes of Dengue viruses belonging to the flaiviviridae family. It has four serotypes DENV 1, DENV 2, DENV 3 and DENV 4. According to World Health Organization (WHO) more than 2.5 billion people are at risk of Dengue infection. Dengue has been identified as a disease of the future owing to trends toward increased urbanization, scarce water supplies and possibly environmental change. ^[5] Dengue is the most common arboviral disease worldwide and is usually endemic, but several epidemics have been recorded. Dengue fever is associated with electrolyte disturbances. Hyponatemia and hypokalemia are the commonest electrolyte disturbances. The reason for hyponatremia in classic Dengue fever patients was uncertain. Materials and methods: In this cross sectional study we assessed 100 patients admitted with Dengue fever in Hospital attached to Medical college and Research Institute over a period of 1 year. 90 cases of Dengue virus infections were confirmed using Dengue day 1 test kit for detecting dengue antigen. It is a rapid solid phase immune chromatographic test for the qualitative detection of Dengue NS1 antigen and differential detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Dengue virus. Serum Sodium and potassium were estimated. Serum electrolyte levels are correlated with Dengue severity. Result: In our study majority of patients belonged to 5-12 years age group i.e. 38.9%. Fever was found to be the most common presentation in 87 patients (96.7%) followed by myalgia in 64 patients (71.1%), headache in 102 patients (51%), skin rash in 43 patients (21.5%). The mean value of serum sodium observed was 133.69 mEq/L and of serum potassium was 3.58 mEq/L and there was positive and significant correlation between difference in serum sodium and potassium levels with severity of dengue fever. Conclusion: Majority of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphate) were found decreased in dengue patients. However, hyponatremia (p=0.001) and hypophosphatemia (p=0.045) were significantly associated to the severity of dengue.