Dengue epidemic in Northern Peru (2024): analysis of 2,449 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical profile and comorbidities of confirmed dengue cases during the 2024 epidemic in northern Peru. METHODS: A retrospective case series including 2,449 patients with confirmed dengue treated at a tertiary care hospital was conducted. Dengue was classified according to World Health Organization criteria, and demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and comorbidities were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the cases, 54.4% corresponded to dengue without warning signs, 45.0% to dengue with warning signs, and 0.7% to severe dengue. The most frequent manifestations were fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, and lumbar pain. Patients with greater clinical severity more frequently presented chest pain, encephalopathy, and signs of hemodynamic compromise. Additionally, a higher frequency of cardiovascular and renal comorbidities was observed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic was characterized by a high proportion of cases with warning signs, and a higher frequency of comorbidities was observed in patients with greater clinical severity.