[Evaluation of the World Health Organization clinical definition of dengue].
BACKGROUND
The distinction between dengue and other acute febrile diseases is difficult when based solely on symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
An attempt was made to evaluate usefulness of dengue diagnoses in an endemic area (Bucaramanga, Colombia), based on the definitions recommended by the World Health Organization.


METHODS
In a cohort >12 years of age with indications of acute febrile illness, the sensitivity, the specificity and the predictive values were determined based on the WHO dengue definition. Two or more of the following symptoms were included: headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, hemorrhagic manifestations, or leucopenia.


RESULTS
One hundred-one cases of dengue and 89 patients with acute febrile illness were enrolled in the study. The dengue cases were confirmed by serological or by virus presence. The WHO case definitions showed sensitivity, 99%; specificity, 1%; positive predictive value, 53%, and negative predictive value, 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
This clinical definition demonstrated high sensitivity, but a low specificity. Therefore, the clinical definition was useful for screening, but it did not differentiate between dengue and other febrile diseases.
Martínez
Ruth Aralí
RA
Centro de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. rutharam@yahoo.com
Díaz
Fredi Alexander
FA
Villar
Luis Angel
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D003715:Dengue / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014944:World Health Organization