Abstract
Dengue fever (DF) is an acute febrile illness that follows a self-limiting course. However, some patients suffer from complications, including myocarditis, due to the involvement of other organs. A child presented at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, in June 2013 with a high-grade fever, malaise and epigastric pain radiating to the chest. Positive DF antigen and immunoglobulin M assays confirmed the diagnosis of DF. Persistent bradycardia with low blood pressure led to further cardiac investigations which showed a decreased ejection fraction and raised serum cardiac enzymes, indicating myocardial damage. With supportive care and use of inotropes, the spontaneous normalisation of cardiac enzyme levels and ejection fraction was observed. The child was discharged five days after admission. This case highlights the importance of identifying myocarditis in DF patients suffering from cardiac symptoms that are not explained by other potential aetiologies. Awareness, early suspicion and supportive care are essential to ensure favourable outcomes.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 16(1), 101-104
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Aslam, M., Aleem, N. A., Rahman, M. F., & J., A. (2025). Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 16(1), 101-104. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019
MLA 9
Aslam, Moaz, et al. "Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, 2025, pp. 101-104. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019.
Chicago (author–date)
Aslam, Moaz, Numra A. Aleem, Mohammad F. Rahman, and Arshalooz J. 2025. "Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 16 (1): 101-104. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019.
Harvard
Aslam, M., Aleem, N. A., Rahman, M. F. and J., A. (2025) 'Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 16(1), pp. 101-104. doi:10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019.
Vancouver
Aslam M, Aleem NA, Rahman MF, J. A. Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;16(1):101-104. doi:10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019
IEEE
M. Aslam, N. A. Aleem, M. F. Rahman, and A. J., "Unusual Presentation of Dengue Fever: A child with acute myocarditis," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 101-104, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.2016.16.01.019.