Seroepidemiological Study of Dengue Virus Infection in Nepal

Shrawan Kr. Singh*, Kamlesh Dutta**
*-** Quest Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, Janakpur, Nepal.
Periodicity:January - June'2025

Abstract

Dengue fever (DF) is an emerging mosquito-borne viral disease and an important public health problem in the lowlands of the Terai region, which is also expanding to the hilly region of Nepal. The study aims to shed light on the clinical, epidemiological, and serological aspects associated with dengue virus infections (DVI) and its implications for future diagnosis, management, prevention, and control of the disease in Nepal. Two hundred sixty-one serum samples were collected from patients suspected of dengue virus infection visiting hospitals in Parsha districts during August–November 2023 and tested by the IgM Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Standard Diagnostic Inc., Korea) and the Dengue IgM/IgG Rapid immunochromatographic test kit (Panbio, Australia). The anti-Dengue IgM positivity was found to be 18.8% and 15.3% by IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and rapid immunochromatographic test, respectively. Compared to ELISA, the sensitivity and specificity of RDT were 73.46% and 98.1%, respectively. RDT performed poorly (kappa value-0.77) and should not be used as a sole diagnostic method for diagnosis of dengue virus infection. In 49 anti-Dengue IgM-positive cases, 67.4% were male and 32.6% were female (male-to-female ratio=2.06:1). The highest number of cases (81.6%) was observed in the age group of 15-50 years. Students were the most commonly affected, with the highest number of positive cases (32.7%). Patients with joint pain, retro-orbital pain, and skin rash as clinical symptoms were more likely to be diagnosed as anti-Dengue IgM positive. Hemorrhagic manifestation was seen in 12.2% of cases. The highest number of cases, 199 (79.6%), have a fever duration of more than 5 days. Anti-Dengue IgM was not found to be detected significantly in cases with a duration of fever of 5 days or more (p=0.686). Knowledge of dengue was found in 65.9%, of which 11.6% was found to be anti-Dengue IgM positive. Waterlogging (10.7%) and travel to endemic areas (37%) were found as the more likely risk factors in anti-Dengue IgM- positive cases. Flowerpots were found as the most likely breeding place with the highest number of positive cases, 36.55%. Use of nets (87.3%) and changing stored water (85.8%) were the most likely used preventive measures, respectively.

Keywords

DVI, RDT, Clinical Features, Risk Factors, Preventive Measures.

How to Cite this Article?

Singh, S. K., and Dutta, K. (2025). Seroepidemiological Study of Dengue Virus Infection in Nepal. Dale View's Journal of Health Sciences and Medical Research, 2(1), 1-11.

References

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