Serological evidence of dengue fever and its associated factors in patients

Abstract

Background: Dengue virus (DENV), a viral infection, is transmitted to humans primarily through bites from infected mosquitoes called Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and, to a lesser extent by the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Globally, the incidence of dengue is increasing, with an estimated half of the world’s population at risk. This study aimed to evaluate serological   indicators of dengue and associated risk factors among patients.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at Hameed Latif Hospital from 15 July 2024 to 30 September 2024. 490 patients were determined using G-POWER software. The study included all patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms indicative of dengue during the study period. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25. Frequency tables were presented for quantitative data, and the chi-square test was used for categorical variables (level of significance p<0.05). Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-DENV IgG and IgM antibodies was 23.7% and 7.6%, respectively. Of the 490 confirmed cases, 421 were male (58.8%), and 295 were female (41.2%). The highest incidence was observed in the 16–30 age group (42.0%), followed by 31–45 years (25.7%),above46years(18.4%),and0–15years(13.8%).Conclusion: Dengue showed substantial seroprevalence, with significant associations with sex and residence. Common clinical manifestations and characteristic hematological abnormalities underscore the importance of early diagnosis, surveillance, and targeted preventive measures