Management of dengue in Australian travellers: a retrospective multicentre analysis.
Med J Aust
; 206(7): 295-300, 2017 Apr 17.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28403751
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To describe the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features and outcomes of dengue in returned Australian travellers, applying the revised WHO dengue classification (2009) to this population. DESIGN, SETTING ANDPARTICIPANTS:
Retrospective case series analysis of confirmed dengue cases hospitalised at one of four Australian tertiary hospitals, January 2012 - May 2015. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Clinical features, laboratory findings and outcomes of patients with dengue; dengue classification according to 2009 WHO guidelines.RESULTS:
208 hospitalised patients (median age, 32 years; range, 4-76 years) were included in the study. Dengue was most frequently acquired in Indonesia (94 patients, 45%) and Thailand (40, 19%). The most common clinical features were fever (98% of patients) and headache (76%). 84 patients (40%) met the WHO criteria for dengue with warning signs, and one the criteria for severe dengue; the most common warning signs were mucosal bleeding (44 patients, 21%) and abdominal pain (43, 21%). Leukopenia (176 patients, 85%), thrombocytopenia (133, 64%), and elevated liver enzyme levels (154, 76%) were the most common laboratory findings. 46 patients (22%) had serological evidence of previous exposure to dengue virus. WHO guidelines were documented as a management benchmark in ten cases (5%); 46 patients (22%) received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).CONCLUSIONS:
A significant proportion of returning Australian travellers hospitalised for dengue have unrecognised warning signs of severe disease. Many received NSAIDs, which can increase the risk of haemorrhage in dengue. As travel to Asia from Australia continues to increase, it is vital for averting serious outcomes that clinicians can recognise and manage dengue.
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Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Travel
/
Dengue
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
/
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Med J Aust
Year:
2017
Type:
Article