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INCIDENCE OF CO-INFECTION OF DENGUE FEVER AND MALARIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN PAKISTAN

Dr Naila Jabeen Baloch, Dr Salma Kadir, Dr Musarat Jehan Baloch, Zoobia Zaheerudin, Dr Zohaib Feroze Memon

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and the clinical profile of patients with concurrent dengue and malarial infections. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study conducted at Medical Unit, The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, from September 2019 to November 2019. Patients presented with consistent signs of dengue fever were included in the study. Patients with flu or other diseases like typhoid, thalassemia were excluded from the study. Patients with co-infection of dengue and malaria were categorized as Group A while those with only dengue fever were regarded as Group B. Demographic and clinical variables; age, gender, complete blood count, peripheral film, thick and thin films, blood clot profile, liver function tests (LFT), presence of dengue IgM and IgG was recorded. Results: A total of 147 (42.2%) of patients diagnosed with dengue fever were hospitalized in our hospital for the treatment and management of dengue fever. Out of these 46 (31.3%) also tested positive for malaria as a co-infection. In group A, the mean age was 28.5 + 9.4 years while in group B it was 23.4 + 6.8 years. Patients with a co-infection had severely low hemoglobin; 39.1% compared to those with only dengue fever; 31.7%. The platelet count was strikingly much lower in patients with a co-infection compared to those with solo dengue infection (p=0.000). Other parameters were comparable in both groups. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the co-infection of dengue fever and malaria share similar and overlapping symptoms which makes it hard for a physician to diagnose. Keywords: Aedes, anopheles, dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, flavivirus, malaria

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