Arboviral Surveillance among Pediatric Patients with Acute Febrile Illness in Houston, Texas

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Aug;99(2):413-416. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0891. Epub 2018 May 31.

Abstract

We instituted active surveillance among febrile patients presenting to the largest Houston-area pediatric emergency department to identify acute infections of dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). In 2014, 1,063 children were enrolled, and 1,015 (95%) had blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid specimens available for DENV, WNV, and CHIKV testing. Almost half (49%) reported recent mosquito bites, and 6% (N = 60) reported either recent international travel or contact with an international traveler. None were positive for acute WNV; three had false-positive CHIKV results; and two had evidence of DENV. One DENV-positive case was an acute infection associated with international travel, whereas the other was identified as a potential secondary acute infection, also likely travel-associated. Neither of the DENV-positive cases were clinically recognized, highlighting the need for education and awareness. Health-care professionals should consider the possibility of arboviral disease among children who have traveled to or from endemic areas.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease / epidemiology
  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Arbovirus Infections / blood
  • Arbovirus Infections / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Arbovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Bites and Stings / epidemiology
  • Chikungunya Fever / blood
  • Chikungunya Fever / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Chikungunya Fever / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection / epidemiology
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Communicable Diseases, Imported / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Imported / virology
  • Dengue / blood
  • Dengue / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Dengue / epidemiology
  • Epidemiological Monitoring*
  • Female
  • Fever / epidemiology*
  • Fever / virology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Travel
  • West Nile Fever / blood
  • West Nile Fever / cerebrospinal fluid
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral