Dengue in an area of the Colombian Caribbean

BACKGROUND In Colombia, dengue is an endemic disease and the four serotypes have been reported. OBJECTIVE To describe the frequency and severity of dengue in an area of the Colombian Caribbean (Department of Cordoba). METHODS A retrospective study was conducted. Two data sources were analysed: The database from the Direction of Health in Córdoba, and clinical registers of patients diagnosed with haemorrhagic fevers and fevers of unknown origin in reference hospitals. RESULTS The mean incidence of dengue between 2003-2010 was 36.5 cases/10(5) inhabitants (CI95%: 34.3-37.5) and adjusted for sub-reporting, could be between 178.5 and 521.6. The mean incidence of severe dengue was 4.7 cases/10(5) inhabitants (CI95%: 4.3-5.0). Mean mortality rate due to dengue was 0.3 cases/10(5) inhabitants. The fatality rate was below 1%. The mean total leukocyte count in patients with dengue was 6,181 mm(3) (CI95%: 5,973-6,389) and with severe Dengue was 4,729 mm(3) (CI95%: 4,220-5,238). The average platelet count in patients with Dengue was 118,793/mm(3) (CI95%: 107,255-130,331) and in patients with Severe Dengue 77,655 (CI95%: 59,640-95,670). Both differences were statistically significant (p <0.05). The frequency of laboratories test per patient in patients with Dengue and severe Dengue were different. CONCLUSION The department of Cordoba is a highly endemic zone of Dengue and severe Dengue in the Colombian Caribbean. Moreover, the results show significant differences between dengue and severe dengue so much in tests as in frequency of use of healthcare services.