Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the dengue outbreak of 2024: a multicenter observation from Bangladesh

Background Dengue fever remains a significant public health challenge in Bangladesh. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profiles of confirmed dengue cases during the 2024 outbreak in Bangladesh. Methods This observational study was conducted from June to September 2024 in four tertiary care hospitals across Bangladesh located in four administrative divisions. A total of 401 laboratory-confirmed (NS1- or IgM-positive) dengue patients aged >= 12 years were included. Demographic data, clinical presentations, and laboratory findings were collected through face-to-face interviews. The revised WHO 2009 dengue case classification was used for severity assessment of dengue patients. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the results. Results The mean age of patients with dengue fever was 29.81 +/- 11.64 (SD) years, with 7.2% of the patients being adolescents (aged 12-17 years). A clear male predominance (88.3%) was observed. Overall, 65.6% of patients had dengue with warning signs, and 9% had severe dengue. Fever (94.3%), headache (70.3%), myalgia (66.1%), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (49.9%) and abdominal pain (43.9%) were common symptoms. The median in-hospital stay of both non-severe and severe cases were 4 & 5 days, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.75%, which was significantly higher among severe dengue patients (5.6%). Conclusion The 2024 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh predominantly affected young adult males, with a notable prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms alongside classic dengue manifestations.