Clinical profile of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever in Indonesian children: A six year retrospective study

Background: Dengue infection is still a significant public health problem in Indonesia. An appropriate clinical profile is helpful in early identification of patients with a high risk for severe dengue infection. Objectives: To report the prevalence, characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients with dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Method: This was a retrospective study of childhood hospitalisation in Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village, Indonesia from January 2015 to December 2020. Demographic data, clinical signs, and laboratory findings were collected and processed using SPSS version 26.  Results: Of 528 patients, 85.6% were DF, 10.4% were DHF grades I and II, and 4% were DHF grades III and IV. Median ages of patients with DF, DHF grades I and II, and DHF grades III and IV were 10.9, 12.4 and 8.5 years respectively. Common clinical symptoms of DF patients were headache (67.5%), loss of appetite (41.8%), and vomiting (40.9%). While 52.7% patients with DHF grades I and II had respiratory symptoms, 42.9% patients with DHF grades III and IV had hepatomegaly. Conclusions: Common clinical symptoms of DF and DHF patients were headache, loss of appetite  and vomiting. Whilst 52.7% patients with DHF grades I and II had respiratory symptoms, 42.9% patients with DHF grades III and IV had hepatomegaly.