Introduction
The prognosis of dengue depends on early diagnosis and treatment, which can help prevent severe forms whose characteristics were evaluated here.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving dengue cases in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, in 2011.
Results
Two health regions registered 56.3% of 371 cases of severe dengue. Of these cases, 21.3% presented with dengue hemorrhagic fever. There were associations between dengue hemorrhagic fever with younger ages and a longer time before receiving care.
Conclusions
There was a greater involvement of dengue hemorrhagic fever in young people. Delay in care, poor urban quality and high endemicity were identified as possible risk factors for dengue severity.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever; Age distribution; Socioeconomic factors
