Acute abdomen presentation in dengue fever during recent outbreak

Objective: To evaluate the etiology, clinical profile and outcome of acute abdomen presentation in Dengue Fever (DF). Methods: This clinical prospective study was done on confirmed cases of DF admitted in the department of medicine during recent epidemic (September 2015 to November 2016). All patients were evaluated clinically and by laboratory and imaging investigations and followed-up during hospital stay till discharge. The cause of pain abdomen was ascertained by blood tests (amylase, lipase and liver function test etc), radiology (Flat plate abdomen-erect, Ultrasonography of abdomen, CECT abdomen) and/or endoscopy. Results:Out of the 501 patients diagnosed as DF, 165 (32.93%) presented with acute abdomen. Some patients presented in other departments like surgery, gastroenterology and emergency, were later diagnosed as DF on laboratory evaluation. Various causes of acute abdomen in our study were nonspecific severe pain abdomen (67 cases), acute hepatitis (46) one had acute fulminant hepatitis, acute acalculous cholecystitis (31), ascitis (12), acute hyperemic gastritis with malena (5), acute pancreatitis (2), and 1 case each of acute appendicitis and acute jejuno-ileal intussuception. All patients were managed conservatively. One patient of acute pancreatitis died of multi-organ failure. Conclusion: Our study concludes that clinical vigilance about such type of presentations is important as timely recognition can influence outcome and may prevent unwanted surgery.