Research Article Open Access

High Case-Fatality Rate of Adults With Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever During An Outbreak In Non-Endemic Taiwan: Risk Factors For Dengue-Infected Elders

Ching-Chuan Liu1, Kao-Jean Huang1, Mei-Chih Huang1, J.-J. Lin1, S.-M. Wang1, Jen-Jou Liu1, Jih-Jin Tsai2, Jyh-Hsiung Huang2, Yee-Shin Lin1, Hsiao-Sheng Liu1, Trai-Ming Yeh2 and Huan-Yao Lei1
  • 1 Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan
  • 2 Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan

Abstract

In 2002, a dengue outbreak occurred in Taiwan with 5336 confirmed cases, 242 DHF and 21 death, the case fatality rate reached 8.7% (21/242). The demographic data of these age-specific dengue patients showed that dengue virus infection caused symptom primarily occurred in adults. A comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory data for DF, DHF/DSS and fatal DSS found that high fatality from dengue infection was associated with the following patient conditions: (1) age above 55 years, (2) underlying diseases with hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, or diabetes, (3) abnormal thrombocytopenia, APTT and PT prolongation, low hematocrit (<30%) and leukocytosis, (4) abnormal elevation of AST, ALT and BUN. In a non-endemic area like Taiwan, dengue should be considered as an adult infectious disease and the dengue-infected elders will have higher morbidity or mortality.

American Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 4 No. 1, 2008, 10-17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2008.10.17

Submitted On: 9 August 2007 Published On: 31 March 2008

How to Cite: Liu, C., Huang, K., Huang, M., Lin, J., Wang, S., Liu, J., Tsai, J., Huang, J., Lin, Y., Liu, H., Yeh, T. & Lei, H. (2008). High Case-Fatality Rate of Adults With Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever During An Outbreak In Non-Endemic Taiwan: Risk Factors For Dengue-Infected Elders. American Journal of Infectious Diseases, 4(1), 10-17. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2008.10.17

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Keywords

  • Dengue disease
  • risk factors
  • elder
  • morbidity
  • mortality