BACKGROUND

Dengue in pregnancy is associated with many maternal and foetal outcomes including perinatal transmission of dengue infection.

CASE PRESENTATION

A baby was born by emergency caesarean section due to foetal distress and meconium stained liquor, to a 27-year old primi-gravidae, Sinhalese female, who was febrile during and 2 days prior to labour. The baby had evidence of respiratory distress due to meconium aspiration and was cared for in the special care baby unit for 3 days. On the 4th day he developed fever and serial blood counts showed a gradual rise in the haematocrit (>20% of baseline value) and lowering of platelet counts. The baby was treated for sepsis and as Sri Lanka was experiencing a massive dengue epidemic was also tested for dengue. His dengue NS1 antigen test was strongly positive and the dengue IgM antibodies weakly positive on day 3 of illness. The mother was positive for both dengue IgM and IgG antibodies.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, vertical transmission of the dengue virus has been reported and the baby most likely developed dengue due to perinatal transmission of dengue.