[Laboratory diagnosis of patients with exanthematic or febrile syndromes occurring in the Zulia State, Venezuela, during 1998].
BACKGROUND
Exanthematic diseases are a group of syndromes mainly caused by acute viral infections.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain information about the viruses that cause exanthematic diseases in our region.


METHODS
During 1998, 267 serum samples from patients with an acute rash or patients presenting a febrile syndrome accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes, headache and other symptoms, were collected. Specific antibody of the IgM class (anti-IgM) against Rubella, Measles, Dengue types 1-4 and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) were measured by immunoenzymatic assay (EIA). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies were measured by immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
An etiologic agent was detected in 208 cases (77.9%). Cases due to Dengue (40.6%) and Rubella (21%) viruses predominated, but the frequency of other agents was also high in specific age groups. The agreement between the clinical suspicion and the laboratory findings varied broadly, from a 100% for suspected Dengue to just a 14.8% for cases of suspected CMV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Dengue was the most common viral exanthematic disease in the Zulia State during 1998.
Costa de Leóna
Luciana
L
Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. lucianacosta@hispavista.com
Estévez
Jesús
J
Monsalve de Castillo
Francisca
F
Callejas
Diana
D
Manuel Echevarría
José
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005076:Exanthema / Q000821:virology*; D005334:Fever / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D013577:Syndrome; D014687:Venezuela
D007075:Immunoglobulin M