A study on maternal and foetal prognosis and predictive factors for adverse outcome in pregnant patients with dengue in an endemic state of India

AIMS: Dengue fever is a major health problem with high morbidity and mortality especially during epidemic season; pregnant females being no exception. But, there is paucity of published data on dengue fever during pregnancy. Hence, this study was planned to study the clinical profile, maternal outcome and predictors of poor outcome in pregnant dengue patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All pregnant females attending labour room of Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur from April 2016 to October2020 with acute febrile illness caused by dengue virus at any gestational age were included in the study. Diagnosis of dengue was made by detection of NS1 antigen or dengue serology. A predesigned proforma was used to record materno-foetal outcomes and were analysed. RESULTS: Dengue was the cause of fever in 7.1% febrile patients. Maternal complications included abortions (26%), abruptio (1.9%), postpartum haemorrhage (11.9%) . Of all the pregnant dengue patients, five had severe dengue(SD) with high mortality (3/5; 60%). Fetal complications were intrauterine death(7.7%),preterm(42.3%). Thrombocytopenia and elevated transaminases were associated with adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever in pregnancy is associated with poor outcomes more in cases of SD rather than dengue fever . Pregnant females with high risk predictors should be identified and managed aggressively in intensive care units to improve outcomes.