Dengue Fever on the Rise: A Threatening Scenario in Eastern India

Background: Dengue is an acute arboviral infection prevalent in India causing both epidemic and endemic. In human beings, dengue virus infection can lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening complication like dengue shock syndrome. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based prospective study was carried out at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014. Blood samples were taken from all the patients who were admitted or visited out-patient departments in our tertiary care hospital with symptoms of dengue fever for ≥5 days. Results and Analysis: Of 1337 samples 198 samples (14%) were dengue IgM positive. In the year 2013, 23 out of 442 samples (5.2%) were IgM positive and in the year 2014, 175 samples (19.5%) were IgM positive out of 895 samples. Conclusion: From our study it appears that the incidence of dengue infection is gradually increasing in our country. Proper vector control is required to prevent such infection.