Differentiating Shock Associated with Multi-inflammatory Syndrome in COVID-19 and Dengue – A Case Report

Abstract

In India where dengue is endemic, differentiating dengue shock and shock due to multi-inflammatory syndrome in COVID become important. Only a few case reports of such cases are present in the literature and we describe a child who was being managed as dengue developed shock and fitted in definition of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). She had positive for dengue NS1 and had raised COVID-19 antibodies. Her capillary refill time was prolonged and her blood pressure was 72/37 mm of Hg. In view of shock, she was given fluid bolus and started on adrenaline infusion. She was given intravenous immunoglobulin and methyl prednisolone. With this management, she improved. When we consider type of shock in dengue, it is narrow pulse pressure, while in our child, this was wide pulse pressure. Hence, we decided to treat with inotropes after initial fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg. We conclude that while differentiating dengue shock from MIS-C shock, pulse pressure may be important adjunct.