Contribution of dengue fever to the burden of acute febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea: an age-specific prospective study

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Jul;85(1):132-7. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0482.

Abstract

Malaria is a major contributor to the burden of febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Dengue fever (DF) is likely to contribute; however, its epidemiology in PNG is poorly understood. We performed a prospective age-stratified study in outpatient clinics investigating the prevalence of DF; 578 patients were enrolled, and 317 patients with a negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria were tested for dengue. Malaria was confirmed in 52% (301/578, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 48-56%), DF was diagnosed in 8% (46/578, 95% CI = 6-10%), and 40% (95% CI = 36-44%) had neither diagnosis. Among the 317 malaria RDT-negative patients, 14% (45/317, 95% CI = 10-18%) had DF. The seroprevalence of dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) was 83% (204/247, 95% CI = 78-87%), and no dengue hemorrhagic fever was seen. This study provides good evidence for the first time that DF is common in PNG and is responsible for 8% of fever episodes. The common occurrence of DF in a population with presumed previous exposure to dengue is an important observation.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Dengue / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Fever*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Malaria / epidemiology*
  • Malaria / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papua New Guinea / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult