O-102 Clinical presentation and laboratory findings of children with dengue in Guyana during the outbreak 2024–2025
Author(s):
M Indar , R Z Casado , K N C Pena , B A Alladin
Type Of Study:
- Descriptive Study
- Quantitative
- Observational Study
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To identify the most common clinical and laboratory features of dengue in children, and to determine the
acute clinical outcomes and acute complications.
Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based study was conducted on children <14 years with confirmed acute dengue infection who were admitted to the Pediatric Medicinal Services at GPHC during a 12-month period (November 2024 and November 2025). We included children with laboratory-confirmed dengue (NS1+/IgM+). Medical charts were reviewed for demographics, clinical presentations, and outcomes. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 27.
Results: The sample included 337 children, with majority being males (59.1%). The mean (SD) age was 7.4 (3.4) years; 60% (n=202) resided in Region 4 (centrally). However, the majority who required critical care management (76%, n=28), resided in Region 6. The most common clinical features were fever (100%), abdominal pain (83%), and vomiting (62.3%). Majority had thrombocytopenia (platelet 49%, 60%) on admission. Approximately half (53.4%) had elevated liver enzymes (ALT & AST >50U/L, GGT >60 U/L, while 44.5% had increased Prothrombin time (>15 seconds) and partial thromboplastin time (>40 seconds). The mean hospital stay was 7(7) days. Eleven percent required critical care management, and 9 children (2.6%) died during admission. The most frequent complications were hepatitis (50.4%), acute kidney injury (32.6%), hypovolemic shock (25.8%), pneumonia (17.8%), bacterial tonsilitis (12.4%), encephalitis (7.7%), liver failure (1.7%), myositis (1.4%), and polyneuropathy (0.8%).
Conclusion: In Guyana, dengue infection is a significant cause of pediatric morbidity with multiple complications that are consistent with global reports.