Cardiac evaluation in patients of dengue fever of central india

Introduction: Dengue rarely affects the heart but clinical symptoms of cardiac involvement may range greatly from silent illness to severe myocarditis resulting in death. Clinical features are asymptomatic and most are transient among patients with DF/DHF.
Material and methods: It was an observational study conducted at the Department of General Medicine, Sri Aurobindo Medical College & PG Institute Indore. All dengue patients presenting to SAIMS Hospital during one and half years from which data was collected using as per given proforma.
Results: In the present study group of 51 patients, it was found that 49 patients (84.5%) have not shown any cardiac abnormalities and 9 patients have abnormal values (15.5%) but are not significant. It is also found that the incidence of cardiac manifestations was more common in DHF and dengue shock syndrome which was 15.5% and 3.4%, respectively.
Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of cardiac involvement can vary widely from silent disease to severe myocarditis resulting in death. Rhythm abnormalities, hypotension, arrhythmias, myocarditis, myocardial depression with symptoms of heart failure and shock, and pericarditis have been reported. Involvement of multiple organs, as well as the presence of metabolic derangement, can further confuse the picture.