Dengue fever may mislead the surgeons when it presents as an acute abdomen
Journal Title: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine - Year 2017, Vol 10, Issue 1
Abstract
Objective: To review the management experience of a consecutive series of patients presenting as acute surgical abdomen whom were ultimately diagnosed to have DF (Dengue fever)/DHF (Dengue hemorrhagic fever). Methods: Clinical data of all cases of apparent acute abdomen (AA) which were later confirmed as having DF/DHF reviewed by two surgical units from December 2012 to December 2013 were analyzed. Initially confirmed patients with DF/DHF who developed abdominal symptoms were not considered. Results: Out of the seventeen cases (7 males, age range 10–71 years) presented with fever and AA; appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis and non-specific peritonitis were suspected initially in 8, 5, 1 and 3 cases, respectively. Neutropenia or thrombocytopenia signifying DF/DHF occurred only in 11 patients at first evaluation thus six remained as surgical candidates beyond 24 h. One patient underwent appendicectomy with a prolonged hospital stay. DF was confirmed by serology in all patients, latest by fourth day of admission. One required blood product transfusion, 4 needed critical care treatment and there was 1 death. Conclusions: DF/DHF misleads the clinicians when it presents as AA. Initial hematological and ultrasonographic findings may be equivocal creating a diagnostic and management dilemma. Vigilant clinical suspicion and early dengue serological assessment is advisable in equivocal cases of AAs with fever in dengue endemic areas, to confirm/exclude the infection in order to avoid unnecessary surgical morbidity in the presence of DF.
Authors and Affiliations
Bingumal Jayasundara
Keywords
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- EP ID EP278404
- DOI 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.12.010
- Views 98
- Downloads 0
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