Seroprevalence of dengue infection in a tertiary care hospital in Assam

Background: Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are important arthropod borne viral diseases. Dengue in India has dramatically expanded over the last few decades, with rapidly changing epidemiology. Dengue is emerging as major public health concern in northeast India and spreading with increased morbidity. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of Dengue infection among patients attending in Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam during the period 2013-2016. METHODS: A retrospective study was done from the year 2013 to 2016. A total of 340 serum samples received in the department of microbiology FAAMCH, were tested for the confirmation of suspected cases of dengue. Dengue NS1 antigen and Dengue IgM antibody ELISA tests were performed for the confirmation of dengue cases. We estimated the incidence by applying age, sex and season adjusted dengue positivity. Results: Out of 340 samples tested, 68 were positive either by NS1 antigen or for IgM antibody ELISA tests. These comprised all age groups of both sexes with higher incidence of cases in young males aged 26– 60 years. Conclusion: From this study, it is apparent that dengue surveillance and control should be enhanced by wider use of laboratory testing to confirm dengue as a cause of fever of unknown origin, especially during the local dengue transmission season.