Aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais de pacientes pediátricos atendidos com dengue em período endêmico.

Objective: To analyse clinical and laboratorial features of pediatric patients hospitalized with dengue fever in endemic period. Methods: A case sectional study was conducted, including pediatric patients hospitalized from April 1st to July 31st 2010 with suspicion of dengue fever. The recommendations of World Health Organization (2007) for definition of classic and hemorrhagic dengue were observed. Variables studied: clinical manifestations, hemoconcentration, low white blood cell count, liver function tests and radiological and sonographic findings of plasma leakage. A data bank was generated with determination of variables frequencies. Results: Retroorbital pain was mentioned in 25.6% (10/39); myalgia in 66.7% (26/39); arthralgia in 15.4% (6/39); headache in 71.8% (28/39); skin rash in 33.3% (13/39); bleeding in 7.9% (7/ 39); vomits in 69.2% (27/39). Hemoconcentration was verified in 48.7% (19/39), low white blood cell count in 53,8% (21/39); elevated aspartate aminotransferase in 53.8% (21/39); and radiological and sonographic alterations sugestives of capilar damage in 77.8% (14/18). Conclusions: Clinical manifestations matched case definition, highlighting attention to elevated occurrence of vomits. Half of cases were of hemorrhagic fever, demanding precocious and successful management to reduce associated burden and mortality and confirming the new epidemiological profile of dengue in our country.