Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever,an Aedes aegypti mosquito-borne infection,caused by a flavivirus has an expanded clinical spectrum ranging from an asymptomatic infection to life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever and refractory shock.Dengue infection in pregnancy can be a diagnostic dilemma,particularly considering the physiological changes in pregnancy and the obstetric complications encountered in clinical practice. Hence the knowledge of its diagnosis and management in its atypical presentations is of paramount importance.Here we report the first case of uncomplicated dengue encephalopathy/encephalitis in a term mother.To the best of our knowledge we could not come across any case reports of dengue encephalopathy/encephalitis complicating pregnancy in literature search. Conclusion: Dengue fever in pregnancy is increasingly being encountered due to its rising disease burden. Dengue encephalitis /encephalopathy must be suspected in the differential diagnosis of fever and altered sensorium,even in pregnancy, in the tropical countries where the infection is rampant.The other conditions in pregnancy that resemble dengue encephalopathy and need to be excluded include systemic lupus erythematosus,thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura,sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation to name a few.Management of dengue infection in term pregnancy is a challenge for both the clinician and obstetrician.Further discussion and research are mandatory to decide on optimal management of these patients with regard to monitoring, fluid management,and the precise timing and mode of delivery in order to prevent fatal morbidity and mortality to both mother and fetus.Further studies are needed to evaluate the predisposition of dengue neurotropism in an immunosuppressed state such as in pregnancy.

Biography

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