PREVALENCE AND SPECTRUM OF OPHTHALMIC MANIFESTATIONS OF DENGUE: OUR EXPERIENCE IN A NORTH INDIAN TERTIARY CARE INSTITUTE

Abstract

Objective: This article puts forward various ocular findings and its prevalence in hospitalized patients with confirmed Dengue serology. The aim is to spread awareness about these findings and call for complete eye examination in patients of dengue fever so that the ocular findings are not missed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted on confirmed cases of 112 dengue patients in Dengue isolation ward in a tertiary care hospital, Government Medical College, Patiala, India, during and after the monsoon season. Results: Various fundus findings in dengue fever seen in our study are Dot blot hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, macular hemorrhages, macular edema, Roth spots, vascular sheathing, hard exudates, and sub-conjunctival hemorrhage. Cumulative prevalence of these findings was 9.82% in hospitalized patients of dengue fever. Blurring of vision was also a common symptom. Conclusion: Ocular findings do occur in dengue fever, along with other systemic manifestations such as fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, hemorrhagic fever, and shock syndrome. Ocular examination should be undertaken in all patients with dengue fever so that these findings are not missed. Further studies are needed to ascertain its pathophysiology.