Prevalence of Dengue Virus among cases with fever of unknown origin in Egypt

Background: Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) is a diagnostic challenge caused by viral infections like dengue, transmitted through mosquito bites. Dengue diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and laboratory tests to detect specific IgM and IgG antibodies. This study aims to detect the prevalence and characteristics of dengue fever in cases of (FUO). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Armed Forces Medical Research Laboratories and Blood Bank (AFLMR) in Cairo, with 370 samples tested for DENV infection between January and August 2023. Participants aged 18-70 with fever ≥38°C. Data collected included demographics, travel history, and symptoms. Blood samples were tested for DENV antibodies using ELISA kits. Positive samples were further assessed for platelet count. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2019, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 using Open Epi. Results: Out of 370 FUO cases, 74% were male, aged 10 - 80 years, and 54% lived in rural areas, 10 were positive for DENV IgM. Symptoms of dengue cases included fever ≥38°C, headaches, joint and muscle pain especially pain behind the eyes, rashes, and conjunctivitis Among the ten dengue cases, 9 were male, and 7 were from rural areas. All cases had a travel history to dengue-endemic regions. 10% had platelet counts below 100,000, indicating possible hemorrhagic symptoms, but all but all fully recovered. Conclusions: There is a significant association between the traveling history from endemic areas and infected dengue cases, through effective management, all were fully recovered indicating mild to moderate infection.