title: Demographic and clinico-epidemiological features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
abstract: This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the epidemiological and clinical features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2011 and 2012. During the study period, anti-dengue IgM positive cases were reported in the post-monsoon period during the months of August-December. Certain hotspots for the dengue infection were identified in the city that coincide with the clusters of densely populated urban regions of the city. Out of total 299 IgM positive patients (male 218 and female 81); there were 239 dengue fever (DF) and 60 dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients. There was decrease in the median age of dengue patients from 31 years in 2011 to 21.5 years in 2012 (p<0.001). Abdominal pain was seen in 35% DHF patients followed by nausea in 28.3%, epistaxis in 25% and rash in 20% patients (p<0.05). Patients reported to be suffering from high-grade fever for an average of 8.83 days in DHF as compared to 5.82 days in DF before being hospitalized. Co-morbidities were found to be risk factor for the development of DHF in dengue patients. Clinical and laboratory features of dengue cases studied could be used for the early identification of patients at risk of severe dengue fever.
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Medical Research Council, Research Centre, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faiz Ahmed
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shafiq ur
authors.initials: Su
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ruqyya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jameel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Nano Bio Energy Engineering School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Medical Research Council, Research Centre, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasnain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population