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Indian Pediatr 2019;56: 428 |
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Epidemiology and Demographic Features of Dengue Infection in
Children
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Kripasindhu Chatterjee and Saroj Kumar Tripathy*
Department of Pediatrics, Gouri Devi Institute of
Medical Sciences and
Hospital (GIMSH), Durgapur, West Bengal, India.
Email: [email protected]
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We read with interest the study by Mistry, et al. [1] published
recently in Indian Pediatrics, and have few comments:
1. In Methods, it is not clearly written whether
sample database is from outpatient department or inpatient
department; or from single institute or multiple institutes.
2. Authors excluded samples with evidence of
co-infections like malaria, typhoid or any co-morbid diseases. As
the study was primarily concerned regarding the epidemiology of
dengue infection, there was no need to exclude other infections or
co-morbid illness. In fact this could have led to less number of
cases of dengue than expected. Including co-infections could have
added another analytical point about magnitude of co-infections in
dengue, which could have bearing on management.
3. In the result section, authors have mentioned
dengue positivity rate in percentages (positivity ranged from 44.1%
in year 2013, 25.8% in 2015 to 16.1% in year 2017), but drainage
area and population mass is not clearly defined. Authors should have
mentioned the sensitivity and specificity of the test kits either
from the previous studies or data from the manufacturers.
It is noteworthy that despite seasonal trends,
patient should always be investigated for dengue when there is high
index of clinical suspicion.
References
1. Mistry M, Chudasama RK, Goswami Y. Profile of
dengue fever in hospitalized children in Saurashtra, Gujarat, 2013-2017.
Indian Pediatr. 2019;56:123-5.
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