Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the dengue outbreak of 2024: a multicenter observation from Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever remains a significant public health challenge in Bangladesh. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profiles of confirmed dengue cases during the 2024 outbreak in Bangladesh.

Methods: This observational study was conducted from June to September 2024 in four tertiary care hospitals across Bangladesh located in four administrative divisions. A total of 401 laboratory-confirmed (NS1- or IgM-positive) dengue patients aged ≥ 12 years were included. Demographic data, clinical presentations, and laboratory findings were collected through face‒to-face interviews. The revised WHO 2009 dengue case classification was used for severity assessment of dengue patients. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the results.

Results: The mean age of patients with dengue fever was 29.81 ± 11.64 (SD) years, with 7.2% of the patients being adolescents (aged 12-17 years). A clear male predominance (88.3%) was observed. Overall, 65.6% of patients had dengue with warning signs, and 9% had severe dengue. Fever (94.3%), headache (70.3%), myalgia (66.1%), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (49.9%) and abdominal pain (43.9%) were common symptoms. The median in-hospital stay of both non-severe and severe cases were 4 & 5 days, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.75%, which was significantly higher among severe dengue patients (5.6%).

Conclusion: The 2024 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh predominantly affected young adult males, with a notable prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms alongside classic dengue manifestations.