Infección por CHIKV y coinfección DENV–CHIKV en pacientes pediátricos en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos en Cali, Colombia

Introduction. Arboviral diseases are vector-borne illnesses that impose a significant disease burden in our country. Both infections can individually lead to severe forms of disease, with overlapping symptoms reported in cases of Dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) coinfection. There is limited information regarding whether these infections result in greater severity among the pediatric population.Case presentation. A descriptive analysis was conducted of patients with CHIKV infection and DENV-CHIKV coinfection—diagnosed via serological tests or RT-PCR—who required hospitalization in two intensive care units in Cali, Colombia.Discussion. Five patients are described: one with CHIKV and four with DENV-CHIKV coinfection. Observed complications included predominantly cardiovascular involvement (such as shock and myocarditis) and neurological involvement (such as meningitis and encephalitis), as well as one death associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.Conclusions. Arboviral infections in pediatric patients commonly present with fever, arthralgia, and maculopapular rash. However, atypical and severe clinical manifestations can occur in some CHIKV infections and in DENV-CHIKV coinfections.