Frecuencia de modificaciones morfológicas y alteraciones de la función del corazón en pacientes adultos y pediátricos internados por dengue grave en el Hospital Distrital de Caaguazú

Abstract

Introduction: Severe dengue fever is a major public health problem in Paraguay, with clinical manifestations that can affect various organs, including the cardiovascular system, raising the need to identify the frequency and type of morphological and functional alterations of the heart in affected patients.

Objectives: To describe the frequency of morphological changes and alterations in heart function in adult and pediatric patients hospitalized for severe dengue at the Caaguazú District Hospital in 2021.

Methodology: The study was observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional, with a quantitative approach. The population consisted of adult and pediatric patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of severe dengue. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic evaluation techniques were used to detect morphological and functional alterations. The data were processed using descriptive statistical analysis, using frequency measures and percentages.

Results: The findings showed that, of a total of 42 patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of severe dengue, 81% were adults and 19% were children; of these, 23.8% of patients had morphological changes in the heart.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate that severe dengue can cause significant alterations in cardiac morphology and function in both adults and children, reinforcing the importance of cardiological monitoring in the clinical management of these patients. Routine echocardiographic evaluation should be incorporated into hospital care protocols, especially in cases with signs of severity to prevent complications and improve prognosis.