Causes of Fever in a Cohort of Nepali Children and the Potential Impact of Molecular Testing During a Dengue Fever Outbreak

This prospective cohort study is the most comprehensive effort to date to describe the causes of pediatric fever in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends dengue PCR or NS1 antigen testing during the first 7 days of dengue fever. Our data indicate that PCR positivity declines after 3 days of symptoms, resulting in missed cases when relying solely on PCR.