DefinePK

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the point of care role of dengue IgA and Dengue IgM/ IgG rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in a tertiary care setting in terms of day of onset of illness atpresentation and frequency of positive RDTs in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengueshock syndrome (DSS). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Abbasi ShaheedHospital, Karachi. Period: August-2014 to January-2016. Method: Patients aged 13years andabove with acute febrile illness, fulfilling the WHO case definition criteria of probable DF andDHF were included. Two immunochromatograpic (ICT) based RDTs, Assure dengue IgA andPanbio Dengue Duo Cassette (IgM / IgG) were used. Dengue IgA was employed in all patientsfrom day 2 of illness whereas IgM / IgG was employed after day 4 of onset of fever. Result:Among 174 probable cases, 108 (62%) presented between 2 – 5 days of onset of fever, amongwhom 87 (80.5%) were found to be dengue IgA positive. Sixty-nine (39.65%) patients had DHF,among whom 97.1% were seropositive for IgA. Of 118 patients presented after 4 days of onsetof illness, 59.3% were positive by IgM / IgG rapid assay. Conclusion: Considering the higherfrequency of secondary dengue and DHF in dengue endemic-hyperendemic regions, IgAbased ICT might be a helpful diagnostic assay for early diagnosis of dengue infection.