title: Contribution of dengue fever to the burden of acute febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea: an age-specific prospective study.
abstract: Malaria is a major contributor to the burden of febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Dengue fever (DF) is likely to contribute; however, its epidemiology in PNG is poorly understood. We performed a prospective age-stratified study in outpatient clinics investigating the prevalence of DF; 578 patients were enrolled, and 317 patients with a negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria were tested for dengue. Malaria was confirmed in 52% (301/578, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 48-56%), DF was diagnosed in 8% (46/578, 95% CI = 6-10%), and 40% (95% CI = 36-44%) had neither diagnosis. Among the 317 malaria RDT-negative patients, 14% (45/317, 95% CI = 10-18%) had DF. The seroprevalence of dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) was 83% (204/247, 95% CI = 78-87%), and no dengue hemorrhagic fever was seen. This study provides good evidence for the first time that DF is common in PNG and is responsible for 8% of fever episodes. The common occurrence of DF in a population with presumed previous exposure to dengue is an important observation.
authors: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea. nicolas.senn@gmail.com
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Senn
authors: Dagwin
authors: D
authors: Luang-Suarkia
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Manong
authors: Peter Max
authors: PM
authors: Siba
authors: William John Hannan
authors: WJ
authors: McBride
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult