Publication:

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in dengue fever patients

Background Dengue fever is an acute febrile illness characterized by frontal headache, retro ocular pain, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rash. Frequent sonographic findings in a case of dengue include thickened gall bladder with pericholecystitic fluid, ascites, spleenomegaly and pleural effusion which is commonly right sided.

Methods 540 patients of confirmed dengue fever were subjected to ultrasonography abdomen to find the incidence of acalculous cholecystitis for diagnostic and prognostic significance.

Results Acalculous cholecystitis was detected in 210 patients (38.88%) of confirmed dengue fever. Patients developing acalculous cholecystitis recovered with conservative treatment only though the hospital stay was prolonged in these patients.

Conclusions In dengue fever patients, acute acalculous cholecystitis is not uncommon and is usually self-limiting and resolves with conservative management only. Role of ultrasonography has a supporting role in dengue fever for prognostic and diagnostic significance.