Dengue and GI Symptoms in Thai Kids: What to Watch Out For

In tropical countries like Thailand, dengue is a big health problem. Kids aged 5-14 get it the most. This study looked into how often kids with dengue get stomach problems and what signs might mean a severe case. Researchers checked medical records of kids aged 0-14 who went to Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital in Bangkok with dengue between 2019 and 2022. They used the WHO's 2009 guidelines to see if cases were severe. The study found 556 dengue cases, with 48 (8. 6%) being severe. Kids were about 10 years old on average. The most common stomach problems were loss of appetite (91. 7%), vomiting (57. 6%), belly pain (38. 3%), and diarrhea (33. 3%). Some kids had bleeding in their gut (3. 2%), while others had a swollen liver (20. 9%) or fluid buildup in the belly (2. 9%). A few even had liver failure (0. 4%) or a swollen gallbladder without stones (0. 2%). Younger kids had fewer cases of vomiting and belly pain, making dengue harder to spot. Vomiting, fluid buildup, high liver enzymes, and low albumin levels were linked to severe dengue. So, if a kid with dengue has any of these, they should be watched closely.