Considering that in 6 of 7 HCP who had measured fever during their illness, the fever had resolved at least 36 hours before testing was performed, we do not believe that prospective assessment of the use of fever-reducing medications would have changed our conclusions.
Children were defined as having fever, and thus eligible for inclusion, if they met one of the following criteria: fever reported by parents at the initial telephone contact, either mentioned or measured; fever mentioned during the consultation or febrile convulsion.
Measured fever and subjective fever were not correlated with viral load (p = 0.41 and 0.12, respectively).
Thus, of the 32 core participants at the retreat, 17 (53%) were virus positive; 7 of the 17 had measured fever and cough or sore throat.
Prodromal fever were defined in 2 different ways: patients reporting a measured fever ≥ 37.5°C during prodromal period; any fever (measured or subjective) during prodromal period [ 21, 22].
Fever was defined as either reported fever by the parents or measured fever, that is, axilliary temperature ≥37.5°C (Mackowiak et al., 1997).
We then performed multivariate Cox regression analysis incorporating these variables, and the only variable that remained statistically significant in the multivariate setting was the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio, measured at fever onset (Hazard ratio 1.20 - 95%CI 1.02-1.41; P < 0.01).
Axillary temperature was measured and fever was considered above 37.6°C.
Subjects were suspected of having dengue if they had (1) fever > 39°C or fever ≥ 38°C measured at least one time on two successive days and (2) at least two of the following signs or symptoms concurrently (nausea, vomiting, headache, eye pain, muscle ache, joint ache, abdominal pain, sore throat, or dengue-like rash).
Contacts were asked to notify the assigned health care provider immediately if they had fever (body temperature >38°C measured twice at least 12 hours apart) or any abnormal symptoms (e.g., vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, jaundice).
