Trends and Insights of Dengue Viral Infection in Dhaka – A Single-centered Study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus , has become a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka. The notable increase in dengue cases necessitates understanding the demographic and clinical characteristics needed for crafting effective interventions. This study aims to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of dengue-suspected patients in Dhaka, specifically examining the relationship between dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) statuses and variables such as age, sex, residential area, and specific symptoms. METHODS: A single-center study was conducted at a reputed diagnostic center in Dhaka from January 2024 to January 2025, enrolling 860 patients suspected of having dengue symptoms. Detailed demographic and clinical information were collected through structured questionnaires. Rapid dengue NS1 antigen, IgG, and IgM were detected by the immunochromatographic assay from the patient’s blood sample. Platelet count data have also been correlated with the dengue-positive cases. RESULTS: The sample included a balanced distribution of males (46.7%) and females (53.3%). Three hundred and forty-one (39.7%) cases were found to be dengue positive, and among all the positive cases, 140 (16.3%) cases were positive in the case of NS1 antigen test only. The analysis revealed significant associations between NS1 status and a significant reduction in platelet count in blood, along with the fever a significant positive relatedness between NS1 intensity with muscle and joint pain, weakness, and chest pain. Vaginal bleeding in female patients was also a noteworthy finding in the history of dengue infection. CONCLUSION: The study highlights key demographic and clinical characteristics of dengue patients in Dhaka. The significant association of chest pain and weakness with NS1 positivity underscores the importance of these symptoms in clinical assessments. These findings can inform targeted strategies for improving the region’s dengue diagnosis, monitoring, and management, which include enhancing diagnostic protocols through combined NS1, IgM, and IgG testing, focus on environmental management in high-prevalence areas, updating screening protocols to reflect changes in post-COVID symptomatology, and conduct further research on evolving symptom profiles and serotype prevalence.