Dengue Fever in a Sickle Cell-Positive Pregnant Woman: A Case Report

TL;DR

A pregnant woman with sickle cell disease developed dengue and was managed with blood transfusion, resulting in a healthy preterm delivery.

Contribution

This case report highlights the rare and complex interaction of sickle cell disease and dengue during pregnancy.

Findings

The patient was successfully managed with packed red cell transfusion and conservative care.

She delivered a healthy baby despite complications from dengue and sickle cell disease.

Pregnancy combined with these conditions increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications.

Abstract

Cases of sickle cell disease with dengue during pregnancy have rarely been reported. Sickle cell disorder is one of the most commonly inherited genetic disorders, especially in certain regions of India. Sickle cell disease, especially in pregnancy, has varying clinical severity, which may potentially lead to serious complications, negatively affecting the maternal and fetal outcomes. Dengue is commonly seen in tropical countries. Serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the dengue virus cause dengue, an infection spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitos. A 24-year-old primigravida with 36 weeks of gestation, with a known case of sickle cell disease and a history of multiple blood transfusions, presented to the emergency department with a history of fever for four days associated with body pains and chills. Her fever profile was sent, and the patient was diagnosed with dengue. She was treated with packed red cell transfusion and conservatively managed. She went into spontaneous preterm labour and delivered a healthy female child. Pregnancy-related pathophysiological changes, such as elevated blood volume, elevated metabolic demand, elevated blood viscosity, and hypercoagulability, combined with dengue fever complications, cause sickle cell disease patients to experience a higher rate of morbidity and mortality.