Chikungunya fever among children presenting with nonspecific febrile illness during an epidemic of dengue fever in Lahore, Pakistan

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan 2 Post Graduate Resident, Department of Paediatrics, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan 3 Chairman and Professor Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan) 4 Assistant Professor and Head of Department of Biostatistics, PGMI Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan) *Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected] Dengue fever and Chikungunya fever are caused by arbovirus. Human infection with either virus is associated with fever, arthralgia, malaise, headache, and rash. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of chikungunya fever among children presenting with non-specific febrile illness during an epidemic of dengue in Lahore, Pakistan. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 75 children of age <12 years with nonspecific febrile illness, consistent with clinical case definition of dengue fever and chikungunya fever, were enrolled via consecutive sampling from May to October, 2011. All cases were subjected to serum samples for dengue and Chikungunya IgM and IgG (ELIZA) both in acute & convalescent phase. Among 75 children presenting with nonspecific febrile illness fulfilling clinical case definitions of dengue and chikungunya fever, 36 patients were confirmed; 3 cases of chikungunya fever and 33 cases of dengue fever. Rash remained the most common feature in children with both dengue and chikungunya fever, and was evident in 52% and 66% of patients respectively. Arthralgia and myalgia were more common in children with chikungunya fever. Leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were found in 34% and 75% cases of dengue fever, and in 66% and 100% cases with Chikungunya fever respectively. A 4% of cases had chikungunya fever during an epidemic of dengue fever in Lahore, Pakistan. Arthralgia and myalgia were more common in children with chikungunya fever. The presence of cases warrants that a high index of suspicion for chikungunya fever is kept during the epidemic of dengue in our region.