Clinical diagnosis and assessment of severity of confirmed dengue infections in Vietnamese children: is the world health organization classification system helpful?
Classification of dengue using the current World Health Organization (WHO) system is not straightforward. In a large prospective study of pediatric dengue, no clinical or basic laboratory parameters clearly differentiated between children with and without dengue, although petechiae and hepatomegaly were independently associated with the diagnosis. Among the 712 dengue-infected children there was considerable overlap in the major clinical features. Mucosal bleeding was observed with equal frequency in those with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and petechiae, thrombocytopenia, and the tourniquet test differentiated poorly between the two diagnostic categories. Fifty-seven (18%) of 310 with shock did not fulfill all four criteria considered necessary for a diagnosis of DHF by the WHO, but use of the WHO provisional classification scheme resulted in considerable over-inflation of the DHF figures. If two separate entities truly exist rather than a continuous spectrum of disease, it is essential that some measure of capillary leak is included in any classification system, with less emphasis on bleeding and a specific platelet count.
Dong Nai Paediatric Centre, Dong Nai Province, Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
Cao Xuan Thanh
CX
Phuong
Ngo Thi
NT
Nhan
Rachel
R
Kneen
Pham Thi Thu
PT
Thuy
Chu
C
van Thien
Nguyen Thi Thuy
NT
Nga
Tran Thanh
TT
Thuy
Tom
T
Solomon
Kasia
K
Stepniewska
Bridget
B
Wills
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014744:Vietnam; D014944:World Health Organization