Clinical and diagnostic characteristics of dengue in children during the 2023–2024 outbreak in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Introduction. Dengue fever presents a broad clinical spectrum in pediatrics, and there is limited information on its course in children. During 2023-2024, Argentina experienced its largest dengue epidemic. Objective. To describe the clinical manifestations and hematological and biochemical alterations in pediatric patients with confirmed dengue and compare the results by age subgroup. Population and methods. Retrospective, observational, analytical study in children under 17 years of age with dengue confirmed by RT-PCR or IgM, treated between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, at a privately managed tertiary general hospital. Clinical, biochemical, and hematological variables were analyzed, comparing subgroups by age (<13 vs. ≥13 years). Results. A total of 383 patients were included; 86.4% presented dengue without warning signs and 13.6% with warning signs. The most frequent symptoms were fever, headache, and myalgia. The most common laboratory abnormalities were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated transaminases. Patients ≥13 years of age had a higher frequency of warning signs and hematological abnormalities. Most were treated on an outpatient basis; only 1.8% required hospitalization. No patients with severe dengue or deaths were recorded. Conclusions. Early leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were the most frequent findings. The group aged ≥13 years had a higher proportion of dengue with warning signs.