Otolaryngological manifestations of patients with dengue

Abstract

Dengue is an acute fever disease caused by an arbovirus, and transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Clinical picture usually starts with classic manifestations such as fever, myalgia, epistaxis, sore throat, vertigo and tinnitus. This disease has became a serious health public problem, reaching incidence rates of 50 to 70% in Rio de Janeiro State. Aim: Our objective was to evaluate patients with dengue, presenting otolaryngological symptoms as the first clinical manifestation. Study design: Longitudinal Cohort. Material and method: Thirty patients with serologically confirmed Dengue were included in this prospective study. Results: The most important otolaryngological signs and symptoms were sore throat (60%), hyaline rhinorrhea (50%), nasal obstruction (46.6%), earache (36.6%), vertigo (20%), epistaxis (13.3%), tinnitus (6.6%), salivary gland diseases (6.6%) and bleeding gum (3.3%). Conclusions: In an epidemic situation, dengue must be suspected by the otolaryngologist, since this disease generally is followed by many otolaryngological manifestations.