Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Pediatric In-Patients with Dengue Fever: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric symptoms have been reported in adult patients with dengue fever (DF); however, information on pediatric patients remains inadequate. We sought to identify the prevalence and predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms and identify other psychiatric symptoms among pediatric patients with DF. This case-control study involved pediatric in-patients (n = 225) who had clinical or serologic-confirmed DF and healthy school-based controls (n = 260). Participants completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive (13.3%) and anxiety (34.2%) symptoms among pediatric patients with DF was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that among controls (3.5% and 16.2%, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis found that age, family history of DF, ≤2 days of hospitalization, myalgia, and arthralgia were predictors of increased depressive and anxiety symptoms among the patients. Further, 26.7% of pediatric patients reported irritability, agitation, visual hallucinations, and aggressiveness. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients present depressive and anxiety symptoms whose levels were associated with social and clinical factors. However, whether these symptoms are present only during the infection or may still persist after recovery or are brought by children's adverse reactions to hospitalization are unknown, and thus, further studies are needed.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Dengue Fever among Pediatric and Adult In-Patients in Metro Manila, Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of in-patients with dengue fever (DF) through hospital-based surveillance has not been done. This study aimed to assess and compare the KAP, identify its predictors, correlation, and protective factors among pediatric and adult patients with DF and community-based controls to structure proactive community-wide DF prevention and control programs. METHODS: This case-control study involved clinically or serologically confirmed patients (pediatrics n = 233; adults n = 17) with DF admitted in three public hospitals and community-based controls in Metro Manila, Philippines. A pretested structured KAP questionnaire was administered to participants to assess their KAP. RESULTS: Pediatric and adult patients had significantly lower mean scores in the practice (p < 0.001) domain compared with the pediatric and adult controls. Being in senior high school, having had days in hospital, and rash were predictors of KAP among pediatric patients. Knowledge and attitude of patients with DF did not correlate with their practices against DF. Use of mosquito-eating fish, screen windows, and dengue vaccine were protective factors against DF. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of behavioral change for knowledge and attitude to have significant effect to practices against DF. Thus, we recommend two comprehensive health programs, Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) and Health Belief Model (HBM).