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Case Reports
. 2020 Sep-Oct;24(5):452-454.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2020.07.008. Epub 2020 Aug 26.

Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus: a clinical challenge

Naira Bicudo  1 , Eliana Bicudo  2 , Julia Duarte Costa  3 , Julliana Alline Leite Porto Castro  2 , Gustavo Barcelos Barra  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus: a clinical challenge

Naira Bicudo et al. Braz J Infect Dis. 2020 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Many regions of the world where dengue epidemics are seasonal are also facing the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a medical concern because both diseases are difficult to distinguish since they have similar clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, and because they have different clinical management. So far, co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus (DENV) has not been studied. Herein we report the first case of a patient with co-infection of COVID-19 and dengue. Both infections were simultaneously laboratory confirmed by positive RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 and RT-qPCR for DENV, NS1, IgM and IgG antibody tests for dengue. The patient had a favorable clinical improvement, without severe symptoms. This case emphasize that, in pandemic era, having a diagnostic of one infection does not rule out the possibility of having another infection concomitantly. In addition, underscores the importance of an accurate and timely diagnosis to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Co-infection; Dengue; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of dengue and COVID-19 cases per epidemiological week, in Federal District, Brazil, 2020., .
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Chest computed tomography (CT) image in first day of hospitalization. The image demonstrates two ground glass opacities in peripheral area of left upper lobe. The patient had few bilateral, peripheral ground glass opacities.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Dengue diffuse itchy erythemato-papular rash, mainly located on the limbs and trunk regions, onset on third day of hospitalization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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