The incidence, characteristics, and presentation of dengue virus infections during infancy

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Feb;82(2):330-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0542.

Abstract

Infants are a vulnerable and unique population at risk for dengue in endemic areas. This report describes the incidence and presenting clinical features of infant dengue virus (DENV) infections from a prospective community-based study performed between January 2007 and May 2009 in the Philippines. DENV3 was the predominant infecting serotype over a wide spectrum of disease severity, ranging from inapparent infection to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). In 2007, the incidence of inapparent DENV infections during infancy was 103 per 1,000 persons person-years and 6-fold higher than symptomatic dengue. The age-specific incidence of infant DHF was 0.5 per 1,000 persons over the age of 3-8 months, and it disappeared by age 9 months. A febrile seizure, macular rash, petechiae, and lower platelet count were presenting clinical features associated with DENV infection among infants with acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses. Community-based studies can help to delineate the incidence rates, disease spectrum, and clinical features of DENV infections during infancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Dengue / diagnosis*
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Philippines / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin M