Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 10, 2024 5 months, 1 week, 5 days, 22 hours, 32 minutes ago
Dengue News: A recent study highlights a concerning connection between past or current COVID-19 infections and increased severity of dengue fever. Researchers from Quaid-i-Azam University-Pakistan, Princeton University-USA, Rutgers Global Health Institute-USA, University, and Universidad del Norte-Colombia discovered that individuals who have previously contracted COVID-19 or are co-infected with the virus and dengue experience more severe symptoms compared to those infected with dengue alone. This
Dengue News report delves into the significant findings of this study and its implications for public health.
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Study finds that previous or existing COVID-19 infection increases Dengue disease severity
Study Overview
The study analyzed data from febrile patients in Barranquilla, Colombia, between 2018 and 2022. This city, a major seaport on the Caribbean coast, provided an ideal location due to its endemic status for all four dengue virus serotypes and the relatively low incidence of severe dengue cases. The researchers aimed to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 infections influenced the severity of dengue fever.
Increased Severity of Symptoms
The findings were alarming. Patients with concurrent SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus infections exhibited significantly higher rates of severe dengue symptoms. Key symptoms that were notably increased in co-infected patients included:
-Haemoconcentration: This condition, characterized by an increased concentration of red blood cells, was significantly higher in co-infected patients, leading to severe complications.
-Hypotension: Co-infected patients frequently experienced low blood pressure, a critical condition that can lead to shock.
-Thrombocytopenia: A marked decrease in platelet count was more common in co-infected individuals, raising the risk of severe bleeding.
-Mucosal Bleeding and Abdominal Pain: These symptoms, along with persistent vomiting, were more prevalent in the co-infected group, indicating severe disease progression.
-Dyspnoea (Shortness of Breath): This symptom was significantly higher among those co-infected with both viruses, though without fluid accumulation, suggesting a direct impact of the viral infections.
Implications for Clinicians
The study's results underscore the importance for healthcare providers to consider the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection when treating dengue patients. Co-infected patients or those with a prior history of COVID-19 are at a higher risk for severe dengue complications. This highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and potentially more aggressive treatment strategies to manage these patients effectively.
Broader Impact of Findings
This study is one of the first to comprehens
ively assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the severity of dengue fever using both the World Health Organization's 1997 and 2009 criteria for dengue severity. The results emphasize the critical need for healthcare systems, especially in dengue-endemic regions, to adapt their diagnostic and treatment protocols to consider the added risks posed by COVID-19.
Sociodemographic Insights
The study also revealed that the incidence of dengue infections and co-infections was higher in patients from lower socio-economic strata (strata 1-4), likely due to living conditions that favor mosquito breeding. This finding calls for targeted public health interventions in these communities to reduce the burden of both dengue and COVID-19.
Conclusion
The study conclusively shows that previous or concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infections significantly exacerbate the severity of dengue fever. This discovery is vital for clinicians and public health officials in managing and mitigating the risks associated with these co-infections.
The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Pathogens.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/7/573
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