Dengue 2021: Trend and Infection rate in Teaching Hospitals of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Dengue is a viral infection that is transmitted to human through bite of Aedes mosquito which in turn incorporates dengue virus in human blood. Objectives:  To determine the trend of dengue cases reporting in Teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi during 2021 and dengue infectivity rate. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done in teaching hospitals (Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Head Quarters Hospital) affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical University during September and October 2021 to study the trend of dengue cases and infection rate. The data were gathered with permission of Medical Superintendent working in each of the 3 hospitals pertinent to the number of patients visiting Infectious Diseases OPD, patients admitted and verified as dengue positive on lab investigations. Data were analyzed by means of Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: About 1509 patients visiting Dengue OPD during September 2021 while 9765 patients visited during October 2021. Dengue infection rate among patients attended and being managed in three public sector tertiary care hospitals was 21.6% and 13.6% during September and October 2021 respectively. Conclusion: Dengue infection rate indicates the need to strategize for regional curtailment of this disease