Objective: To study the common bleeding manifestations in dengue and see whether there is a correlation between them and platelet counts less than 100,000/cu.mm. Method:Children below the age of 14 years with dengue seropositivity were included in the study. Relevant blood investigations were done and patients were managed according to World Health Organisation guidelines. Results:A total of 100 children with a mean age of 7.9 ± 3.7 years were included in the study. During the course of illness, bleeding occurred in 60% of children. It was found that 26% of children had melaena, 20% had petechiae, 8% had haematemesis, 4% had epistaxis and 2% had gum bleeding. All (100%) the patients who had platelet counts between 50,001-100,000/cu.mm developed haemorrhage and 95.8% of patients with platelet range between 20,001-50,000/cu.mm of blood had developed haemorrhage. However, of patients who had platelet counts less than 20,000/cu.mm, 41.8% developed haemorrhage and 58.2% did not have haemorrhagic manifestations (p =0.001). Conclusions:No correlation was found between platelet counts <100,000/cu mm and increase in incidence of bleeding manifestations in DHF.

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Objectives: To compare the clinical effectiveness of oral azithromycin versus intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone for treating uncomplicated enteric fever. Methods: Children aged 2-17 years with uncomplicated enteric fever and positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi were included in the study. These were grouped as Group A (50 cases) and Group B (50 cases). Group A was given oral azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day once a day (azithromycin group) and Group B was given IV ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses (ceftriaxone group) for 6 and 7 days, respectively. Every day the child was examined, and the study results were assigned as a clinical and microbiological cure or failure. Results: A total of 100 patients in sex ratio of 1.2:1 (male:female) with uncomplicated enteric fever were enrolled in the study. Mean duration to become afebrile was less with azithromycin (2.72 days) as compared to ceftriaxone (5.52 days) treatment (p=0.000). 96% of the cases treated with azithromycin attained defervescence by the 5th day of treatment, but only 27% of cases treated with ceftriaxone attained defervescence by the 5th day of treatment. A clinical cure was earlier with azithromycin than with ceftriaxone treatment (p=0.027). Microbiological cure was achieved in 100% and 98% cases treated with azithromycin and ceftriaxone, respectively (p=0.5). Conclusion: Oral azithromycin was more efficacious in the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever in children as compared to IV ceftriaxone.