BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain manifestations are major dengue fever characteristics, both in adults and children, bringing discomfort and distress to patients. This study aimed at analyzing major pain complaints in dengue fever patients, thus making possible the development of early diagnosis and pain management. METHOD: Retrospective study of 252 medical records of patients with presumptive dengue fever diagnosis, treated at São José Hospital, Fortaleza, reference in infectious diseases in the State of Ceará, from January 2006 to December 2007. Patients presenting at least one pain complaint were included in the study. RESULTS: Most patients (94.84%) had at least one pain complaint, being headache the most prevalent, followed by myalgia and abdominal pain. Patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic dengue fever (40.16%) had more pain complaints than patients with classic dengue fever. Serology for dengue fever was positive for 72.72% of patients presenting the five major pain complaints evaluated in this study. CONCLUSION: Pain was highly prevalent in dengue fever cases and health professionals should adequately manage pain symptoms.
Dengue fever; Headache; Hemorrhagic dengue fever; Pain
