Dengue
- 1. Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever: early recognition, diagnosis and hospital management An audiovisual guide for health-care workers responding to outbreaks TranscripT EpidEmic and pandEmic alErt and rEsponsE
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- 3. Preface Epidemic dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a major public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries in South-East Asia, Western Pacific, Latin and Central America. An estimated 500 000 cases of DHF require hospitalization each year, of whom a very large proportion are children. Without proper treatment, DHF case-fatality rates can exceed 20% but with modern intensive sup- portive therapy, such rates can be reduced to less than 1%. This CD-ROM1 has been developed to train health-care workers to recognize the clinical features and early warning signs of DHF, to initi- ate prompt referral, and to follow the principles of advanced hospital supportive care in order to reduce case-fatality rates. Of crucial importance is the recognition and management of capil- lary leak for which conventional paediatric resuscitation protocols are often inadequate or potentially harmful. The film emphasizes not just “what to do” but also “what not to do” as well as “warning signs to look for, and when”. In January 2005, Timor Leste faced an outbreak of DHF when the case-fatality rate peaked at around 14%. In Timor Leste, these management measures helped local staff successfully reduce the high case-fatality rate. This booklet contains the transcript and timing of the film narrative to facilitate translation into other languages. 1 The film was taken at the National Government hospital (NHGV)in Dili during the WHO coordinated GOARN response. GOARN: Global Alert and Response Net- work.
- 4. Acknowledgements Video footage for the CD-ROM was obtained with the cooperation of the DHF patients, their families and the staff of the National Govern- ment Hospital (NHGV) in Dili during the WHO coordinated GOARN response to the 2005 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) outbreak in Timor Leste. This CD-ROM and transcript have been developed by experts from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Case Management of Dengue/DHF in Bangkok, Thailand, the WHO Country Office in Dili, Timor Leste, the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi, India and the WHO Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response in Geneva, Switzerland.
- 5. Transcript of the DHF training film AUDIO VIDEO This child is suffering from dengue 00:12 haemorrhagic fever (DHF). His capillaries Child showing are leaking fluid and he has a tendency signs of DHF to bleed. This is what distinguishes DHF from dengue. It is a painful disease which can cause severe bleeding, and if not treated properly and timely, often results in death. 1 But the problem of treating DHF does not 00:35 start here on the ward, it starts much View of paediatric earlier wherever patients are first seen. and emergency wards All health-care workers need to know 00:45 how they might suspect a diagnosis of dengue and know how they and the parents can treat mild symptoms and be on the lookout for signs of DHF, especially the signs signifying the need for admission and careful treatment. If you are in a dengue-affected area you 01:07 should suspect dengue fever if you Map of dengue recognize one or more of the following affected areas symptoms: • Fever pattern: an abrupt onset, high 01:19 fever, and sometimes a saddleback fever, Child with fever a fever that does not completely respond to paracetamol syrup. • Symptoms of headache, retro orbital 01:30 pain, muscle pain, and joint pain. Child in pain
- 6. AUDIO VIDEO • A child may appear physically tired or 01:40 have other altered behavior, for example A quiet child irritability or vomiting. • Skin may show signs of a flushed face 01:50 or there may be erythema or maculo- Pictures of various papular rash on the head and trunk children with these region of the body. symptoms If you suspect dengue, then the next step is to look for risk factors or features of DHF. 2 Increase in size and the tenderness of the 02:11 liver might also suggest DHF. Doctor examining child Distinguish the symptoms from other 02:21 common illnesses such as measles or Doctor questioning malaria. mother Laboratory tests compatible with DHF are: 02:31 • decrease in white cell count; Health-care worker • decrease in platelet count; and making a blood film • increase in haematocrit. and performing the A blood film may also show atypical haematocrit test lymphocytes. A specific test for DHF is the tourniquet 02:51 test. This is done by first measuring the Nurse performing blood pressure. Remember to use a blood the tourniquet test pressure cuff the right size for that child. Then inflate the cuff to a pressure exactly 03:04 half way between systolic and diastolic pressures.
- 7. AUDIO VIDEO Now keep the pressure inflated for 03:11 5 minutes. After releasing the cuff look carefully for 03:15 small red or purple bleeding points in the skin known as petechiae. These might be tiny, the size of a pinhead. If there are 10 or more bleeding points in 1 square inch area, then the test is positive. But remember, the tourniquet test can be 03:39 negative especially early in the disease or in Graphic with list obese patients or in patients with shock. So, if there is any suspicion of dengue or 03:49 DHF here is: Graphic with list What to do What not to do The warning signs to look for and when What to do 04:02 Bring the temperature down. Whatever Child being the cause of fever, a very high temperature sponged to bring can be dangerous and can cause fits known down the fever as febrile convulsions. To bring down high fever to below 9 °C, gently sponge the child with clot soaked in water and give paracetamol. Maintain hydration and electrolyte balance 04:24 using oral fluids. Thirst is common but many Child drinking avidly children need help to drink. Avoid giving from a bottle only water as this will not replace lost electrolytes. Continue breast feeding if possible.
- 8. AUDIO VIDEO Keep mosquitoes away, for example 04:42 using nets, to stop spread of the disease Child under a from a person with dengue. Remember mosquito net in unlike malaria, the mosquitoes that spread the paediatric ward dengue will usually bite during the day. What not to do 04:59 Avoid certain drugs, for example, aspirin, Child with aspirin NSAIs (non steroidal inflammatory drugs related epistaxis in such as ibuprofen) which in this child the emergency ward leads to bleeding. 4 Avoid inappropriate intravenous (IV) fluids. 05:12 Always use oral fluids if the child is able Child drinking to drink. In DHF, if IV fluids are given when not 05:19 necessary or too quickly, the extra fluid can IV Drip pour out of the leaky capillaries into the tissues. You may see this as puffiness around the 05:29 eyes, or even abdominal distension due Child with puffy eyes to fluid in the peritoneal cavity. But most importantly fluid easily leaks into 05:37 the pleural space causing pleural effusions Child breathing fast and by pressing on the lungs this makes breathing difficult. Here is a chest X-ray of a child with pleural 05:48 effusions. Because the child was lying down Chest X-ray when the X-ray was taken most of the fluid just shows up as diffuse hazy shadowing behind the lungs, but the arrows show where the fluid is also pressing on the sides sides of the lung.
- 9. AUDIO VIDEO The wrong kind of fluid, for example, too 06:10 much 5% dextrose on its own without any IV Drip balanced salt solution, can also cause problems such as convulsions due to brain edema or swelling. The warning signs of what to look 06:28 for and when Mother holding child Parents as well as health-care workers need to know these as most of them signify the child needs admission to hospital. It is important to remember that the risk period 5 is especially high in the first 1–2 days after the fever subsides. This is known as the critical period. The warning signs include: 06:53 • Refusing to accept oral fluids or vomiting. Children with the • Sleepy or restless child. different warning • Bleeding, especially gastro-intestinal signs of DHF bleeding with fresh or old blood in the vomit or stool. Old blood in the vomit looks like coffee grounds; in the stool it may resemble thick black coal tar. • A child suffering from abdominal pain. • Skin mottling, cold sweaty skin or cold hands and feet. • Absence of urine in the last 6 hours.
- 10. AUDIO VIDEO In addition to the above, doctors or 07:55 nurses should also measure: Graphic with list • Capillary refill time (CRT) • Heart rate • Respiratory rate • Blood pressure Of all these a capillary refill time of more 08:10 than 2 seconds, as shown here, is Doctor checking especially easy to detect. CRT 6 If all the points we just talked about are 08:20 absent the child may be sent home with Child leaving careful advice to parents to remember: with parent • What to do • What not to do • The warning signs to look for and when If there are any concerns or if the parents 08:34 are unable to comply with these instructions, Hospital entrance then consider admitting the child. Early signs of shock or significant bleeding 08:43 need urgent referral to hospital. In DHF, Child with although a child may appear to initially haemorrhage survive a period of prolonged shock, haemorrhage will often become severe and other complications such as renal failure can develop. It may also be difficult to reverse. A paediatric ward provides frequent and 09:07 skilled observation and immediate expert Doctor examining management of these complications. child
- 11. AUDIO VIDEO Remember that the risk period is 09:14 especially high during the first 1–2 days Child in critical stage after the fever subsides. This is known as critical period. It is during this phase that capillary leak can be severe. Plasma Chest X-ray leakage is the most important feature of DHF and often precedes bleeding. This is a feature that needs special monitoring. A centrifuge and capillary blood tubes 09:39 provide the most essential and frequently Nurse using performed test with immediate results. As centrifuge for the capillaries start to leak plasma, the haematocrit remaining red cells become more concentrated. DHF frequently shows a rise in haematocrit of 20%, that would be a change in haematocrit for example from 5% to 42%. Here is a visual demonstration of what 10:11 happens when the haematocrit changes. Graphic As the plasma level falls the haematocrit 10:23 rises sharply as there is not enough fluid Visual demonstration demonstration in proportion to the red cell. Remember if IV fluids are given when not necessary or too quickly, the extra fluid can pour out of the leaky capillaries into the tissues. You may see this as puffiness around the 10:37 eyes, or even abdominal distension due to Child with puffy eyes fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
- 12. AUDIO VIDEO But most importantly, fluid easily leaks Child breathing into the pleural space causing pleural fast. effusions, and by pressing on the lungs this Chest X-ray makes breathing more difficult. During the capillary leak phase just enough 11:05 fluid must be given to prevent circulatory Visual shock. The paediatricians will refer to demonstration published guidelines or wall charts to give continued exactly the right amount of fluid at this critical stage. A falling haematocrit could be a sign of 11:29 bleeding. This is an important sign where Child with bleeding is concealed. Sometimes bleeding haemorrhage into the gut may not be apparent, for example until it passes out in the stool or vomit. Remember this sort of bleeding can be associated with severe abdominal pain. In children who are obviously recovering, 11:52 fluid that leaked into the tissues, peritoneum Recovering child or chest cavity will be reabsorbed and may also result in a fall in haematocrit.
- 13. VIDEO AUDIO Remember nurses will still be observing 12:07 children closely for any of the important Review of children warning signs with the different • A child refusing to accept oral fluids or DHF signs. vomiting • Sleepy or restless • A child suffering from abdominal pain • Skin mottling • Cold sweaty skin • Cold hands or feet • A reduced urine output 9 These are all signs of shock which may require immediate increase in IV fluid. Bleeding which may be visible or 12:51 concealed may require urgent blood Child with transfusion if severe. haemorrhage A child whose breathing is fast or 13:01 requiring more effort may require oxygen Child breathing fast therapy and immediate reduction in the IV fluid. In addition to these observations doctors 13:13 or nurses will also monitor: Graphic with list • Capillary refill time (CRT) • Heart rate • Respiratory rate • Blood pressure In critically ill children, these observations 13:25 might be necessary every half hour. Child in critical stage
- 14. AUDIO VIDEO Features common in the recovery period 13:32 which may support the clinical diagnosis Recovering child of DHF are: a widespread itching rash often with white centres, slowing of the heart rate, but for definitive diagnosis, blood samples should be taken. Reporting of all cases must also occur to 13:53 ensure appropriate public health measures Doctor and nurse can be started. Any deaths public health doing paper work reporting from DHF should be examined for public health 10 closely. They often reveal the need for more reporting purpose resources or training. With constant evaluation and feedback to all involved from community to specialist hospitals more 14:14 children with DHF can be successfully Child goes home to treated and sent home. her family Production Team: 14:26 Renu Dayal Drager Graphic with text Emma Fitzpatrick Siripen Kalayanarooj Simon Mardel Nikki Shindo Garrett Smyth This film was made during the 2005 DHF outbreak in cooperation with patients and staff of the National Hospital and the WHO Country Office in Dili, East Timor. GOARN and WHO logo www.who.int/csr WHO copyright text