Indian Journal of Microbiology Research 2021;8(2):123–127 Content available at: https://www.ipinnovative.com/open-access-journals Indian Journal of Microbiology Research Journal homepage: https://www.ijmronline.org/ Original Research Article Dengue in COVID 19 pandemic year 2020- Enquiry into the unanswered question of 2020? Rajeshwari K G 1, *, Hannah Abhinaya 2 , Brunda M S 2 , Arushi Mohan 2 1 Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India 2 Dept. of Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 24-06-2021 Accepted 28-06-2021 Available online 30-07-2021 Keywords: COVID 19 Dengue Coinfection RT PCR Vaccination ABSTRACT Introduction: India along with the world is facing one of the worst pandemic in recent times with COVID- 19. Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in dengue virus (DENV)–endemic areas has raised concern regarding coinfection with the two viruses Difficulty in distinguishing dengue and COVID-19, particularly during the acute stage, can engender inaccurate diagnoses. Objectives: To study the trends in Dengue infections during the COVID 19 pandemic and previous 2 years. Materials & Methods: A retrospective study considering all the Dengue serology tests over the period of 3 years was considered. Dengue serology tests by Dengue Rapid card, COVID RT PCR, COVID 19 IgM & IgG. Results: Spiking of cases in alternate year in Karnataka. 2250, 5070,2284 samples processed fro Dengue in 2018,2019 & 2020. The positive percentage was 10.3% in the year 2019. Dengue NS1 & IgM positive cases were more as the cases seeked support of healthcare at the initial phase of fever. Environmental factors did not have a significant role to play in the state. Conclusion: Study on cellular & immunolgical mechanisms of COVID 19 virus will lead to improved diagnsotic modalities and correct interpretation of test results preventing fatal outcomes. Encouraging vaccination for COVID-19 will reduce fatal outcomes. © This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 1. Introduction As per WHO Dengue is an arbovirus with clinical symptoms ranging from fever, myalgia to increased capillary permeability which leads to bleeding manifestations and organ damage is considered the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9 billion people in over 129 countries are at risk of contracting dengue, with an estimated 96 million symptomatic cases and an estimated 40,000 deaths every year which poses a huge burden on health. 1 Dengue cases in Karnataka have been following a pattern of spiking every alternate year. As per data 17,844 cases and 17 deaths were reported in 2017. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: drrajipradeep@gmail.com (Rajeshwari K G). 4848 cases were reported in 2018. Whereas in 2019 there were 18183 cases and 17 deaths.in 2020, 3823 cases were reported. 2 Similar situation was witnessed in neighbouring states like Maharashtra showed a marked decline of 84% when compared to 2019. 3 Co-epidemics create a burden on healthcare system, especially so in the affected areas more so in developing & underdeveloped countries. 4 Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in dengue virus (DENV)–endemic areas has raised concern regarding coinfection with the two viruses. 5,6 DENV presents with fever, muscular pain, malaise, and rash, which makes it difficult to distinguish between dengue fever and SARS-CoV-2 infection. 7 Difficulty in distinguishing dengue and COVID-19, particularly during the acute stage, can engender inaccurate diagnoses. This would lead to delay in initiation of adequate treatment and irrational pharmacotherapy, which will lead https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmr.2021.024 2394-546X/© 2021 Innovative Publication, All rights reserved. 123