1. Clinical and laboratory signs as dengue markers during an outbreak in Rio de Janeiro.
- Author
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Passos SR, Bedoya SJ, Hökerberg YH, Maia SC, Georg I, Nogueira RM, Souza RV, and Marzochi KB
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Brazil epidemiology, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dengue Virus, Female, Fever, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Biomarkers, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Dengue diagnosis, Dengue epidemiology, Dengue physiopathology, Disease Outbreaks
- Abstract
Background: One of the main challenges for clinical research in dengue is the low validity of clinical diagnosis., Objective: To analyze clinical and laboratory data as predicitve factors of dengue diagnosis at Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, during the 2001-2002 dengue outbreak in Rio de Janeiro., Methods: Cross sectional study comparing clinical laboratory data collected from the National Information System for Compulsory Notification Diseases (SINAN) in two serologically confirmed groups: dengue D (N = 453) and non-dengue ND (N = 80)., Results: Fever, exanthema, itching, mean platelet count < 150,000, WBC count < 4,000 and absence of vomiting and of abdominal pain help to distinguish D from ND groups. When considered individually, these signs and symptoms enhance diagnostic sensitivity and, when used in combination, improve specificity., Conclusion: A combination of symptoms not necessarily considered indicative of dengue diagnosis could improve surveillance and medical decision-making in simple clinical settings.
- Published
- 2008
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