Similarities and differences between Zika and dengue in the Cuban pediatric population

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue and Zika constitute a threat to health in children.

Objective: To identify similarities and differences between Zika and dengue in the Cuban pediatric population.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study of patients (1 to 18 years old) with infection by (dengue or Zika), conducted to 1682 of them in the period September 2016 - May 2019, at "Leonor Pérez" Teaching Pediatric Hospital, in Havana. 105 children with dengue-positive IgM, 140 with Zika-positive PCR, and 18 with both positive diagnostic methods were included. The variables were: age (in years of age), sex and clinical manifestations. Descriptive statistical techniques were used.

Results: Of 105 children with suspected dengue predominated the ones older than 10 years and females, and the most frequent symptoms were fever and rash in 86.6 and 70.5%, respectively. Of 140 positive to Zika, the age coincided, but in the male sex, with rash 84.3% and fever 70%. The general symptoms increased above 5 years, and exceeded 36.4% in those over 14 years. In simultaneous infection, the behavior was similar, but only 38.8% of those over 9 years of age presented general symptoms.

Conclusions: In both arboviruses, fever and rash are predominant, the general clinical manifestations are more noticeable as age increases, especially in Zika; there are no clinical differences in patients over 9 years, in suspected dengue, positive to Zika or with simultaneous infection.