Epidemic due to chikungunya virus in pediatric patients in Neiva, Colombia: Clinical presentation, paraclinical and complications

Abstract

Introduction: Colombia was severely affected by an outbreak of Chikungunya virus in 2014-2015 mainly in the Caribbean and Andean region. Huila record during the first months of 2015 a large number of cases the objetive was to describe the clinical behavior epidemic of Chikungunya virus infection in pediatric patients attending the University Hospital Hernando Moncaleno Perdomo (HUHMP) of Neiva during the period between January 1 and March 31, 2015 Methodology: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted, taking into account the number of children treated at the University Hospital of Neiva, in the first quarter of 2015. A simple of 140 hospitalized patients were included in ths study was collected. Results: The analyzed sample was 140 patients, including 37 neonates (26.4%), 72 infants (51.4%), 12 preschool children (8.5%) and 19 students (13.5%). 59% were males and 41% females; 79% of patients were from Neiva. As for the clinical manifestations, 91.4%, presented as the predominant characteristic rash, diarrhea 30.7%, joint pain 30%, vomiting 20.7%, seizures 3.6%, vesiculobullous lesions 3.6%, and myocarditis 1.4%. Leukopenia and lymphopenia was documented in 20% of cases, and thrombocytopenia in 5.7%. All patients were discharged from the institution alive without documented mortality. Two neonates had myocarditis with satisfactory evolution. The seizures occurred mainly in infants, no evidence of neurological déficit. Conclusions: During the 2015 Chikungunya fever outbreak in Huila, 75% of the population served in the pediatric ward of HUHMP corresponded to children under 2 years. The rash accompanying fever was the predominant manifestation in this population. Data leucopenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 1/5 cases. Severe forms of Chikungunya fever observed were myocarditis and seizures. During the study, it was increased to double the demand for consultation by fever the pediatric emergency department, compared to the previous 3 months.