Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Severity of Dengue in Children

Abstract

Dengue infection, caused by the dengue virus, remains a global health concern, especially in developing countries like Indonesia. Children are the most vulnerable group, with cases often progressing to dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, or dengue shock syndrome. Although existing studies show inconsistent results, nutritional status is considered to influence the severity of dengue infection. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional status and the severity of dengue infection in children aged 5–18 years. This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from the medical records of 119 pediatric patients diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever at RSAB Harapan Kita, Jakarta, between January 2023 through December 2024. Patients who met the inclusion were included. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson Chi-Square test with a significance level of p<0.05. Most children were aged 10–18 years (64.7%) and male (62.2%). About 57.1% had poor nutritional status (undernutrition or overnutrition), and 89.1% were classified as having non-severe dengue. No significant association was found between nutritional status and dengue severity (p=0.351). There is no significant relationship between nutritional status and the severity of dengue infection in children