Successful Outpatient Management of Children at a Secondary Care Hospital in Pakistan in a Dengue Fever Epidemic and Their Clinical Outcomes
Table 1
Comparison of baseline characteristics and clinical features of patients at initial presentation.
Characteristics
Total
Outpatient group1
Inpatient group2
value
(n = 93)
(n = 87)
(n = 6)
Age (years)3, mean (±SD)
7.9 ± 2.8
7.8 (±2.8)
9.5 (±3.4)
0.154
Sex
Male, n (%)
42 (45.2)
39 (44.8)
3 (66.7)
0.805
Female, n (%)
51 (54.8)
48 (55.2)
3 (33.3)
Duration of fever at initial presentation (days), mean (±SD)
3.1 (±1.1)
3.0 (±0.9)
5.33 (±1.0)
0.000
Symptoms
Fever, aches, pain, n (%)
93 (100.0)
87 (100.0)
6 (100.0)
-
Burning eyes, n (%)
93 (100.0)
87 (100.0)
6 (100.0)
-
Vomiting, n (%)
42 (45.2)
36 (41.4)
6 (100.0)
0.005
Headache, n (%)
40 (43.0)
36 (41.4)
4 (66.7)
0.226
Cough, n (%)
7 (7.5)
7 (8.0)
0 (0.0)
0.470
Diarrhea, n (%)
7 (7.5)
5 (5.7)
2 (33.3)
0.013
Backache, n (%)
5 (5.4)
5 (5.7)
0 (0.0)
0.546
Muscle soreness, n (%)
4 (4.3)
4 (4.6)
0 (0.0)
0.591
Gum bleed, n (%)
3 (3.2)
1 (1.1)
2 (33.3)
0.000
Abdominal pain, n (%)
3 (3.2)
1 (1.1)
2 (33.3)
0.000
Nosebleed, n (%)
2 (2.2)
0 (0.0)
2 (33.3)
0.000
Vitals
Temperature (°F), mean (SD)
100.4 (±0.7)
100.4 (±0.7)
101.2 (±0.5)
0.008
Pulse (bpm), mean (SD)
106.0 (±5.6)
105.5 (±5.3)
113.7 (±5.0)
0.000
Respiratory rate
Normal
85 (91.4%)
82 (94.2%)
3 (50.0%)
0.001
Fast breathing3
8 (8.6%)
5 (5.8%)
3 (50.0%)
Blood pressure
Normal
87 (93.5%)
87 (100%)
0 (0.0%)
0.000
Hypotension4
6 (6.5%)
0 (0.0%)
6 (100.0%)
Signs
Some dehydration, n (%)
39 (42.0)
34 (39.1)
5 (83.3)
0.034
Rash, n (%)
5 (5.4)
5 (5.7)
0 (0.0)
0.546
Red eyes, n (%)
9 (9.7)
8 (9.2)
1 (16.7)
0.549
Tender abdomen, n (%)
4 (4.3)
0 (0.0)
4 (66.7)
0.000
Hepatomegaly, n (%)
3 (3.2)
0 (0.0)
3 (50.0)
0.000
Ascites, n (%)
4 (4.3)
0 (0.0)
4 (66.7)
0.000
Petechiaem, n (%)
1 (1.1)
0 (0.0)
1 (16.7)
0.000
Pleural effusion, n (%)
1 (1.1)
0 (0.0)
1 (16.7)
0.000
1All these children had DF according to WHO criteria with NS1Ag confirmation. 2All these children had SD, according to WHO criteria at presentation with NS1Ag confirmation. Of these six children, 4 had shock due to severe plasma leakage and 2 had severe bleeding. The median duration of fever before development of SD was 5 days. Mean duration of hospital stay was 9 (±2) days. 3Fast breathing was defined as children 2–11 months = ≥50 breaths/min, 12–59 months = ≥40 breaths/min, and >5 yr = ≥30 breaths/min. 4Hypotension was defined as narrow pulse pressure <20 mm Hg. DF: dengue fever; bpm: beats per minute; SD: standard deviation.
