A study on serological and hematological parameters in dengue fever in a tertiary care hospital of North Kerala

Abstract

Dengue fever is one of the major public-health concerns in India and it has shown an increasing trend in Kerala since 2006. This study is aimed to study the serological and hematological parameters of patients with dengue fever in a tertiary referral center and teaching hospital. A retrospective study was performed, during the period of three years, from January 2016 to December 2018. A total of 2126 serum samples from clinically probable cases of dengue were added in the study. All the samples included were tested for NS1 antigen, IgM, and IgG antibodies, using the immunochromatographic test (ICT) Dengue Day 1 Test (J.Mitra & Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi). Laboratory tests of dengue positive parameters and its hematological profile was co-related. Out of 2126, 393 samples (18.48%) were positive for dengue. Among them 383 (97.45%) were grouped as primary dengue infection, 10 (2.54%) as secondary dengue infection. Higher rate of cases were in males and the age group of 21years to 30 years were chiefly affected. Maximum cases were found in monsoon and post monsoon seasons. Leucopenia and thrombocytopenia was more consistently associated with dengue infection Thrombocytopenia and leucopenia are prima facie and are indicators for provisional and initial diagnosis of dengue infection. Defining primary and secondary dengue infection will be helpful to clinicians for optimal management to achieve a favorable outcome.

Trends in dengue virus infection with seasonal variation at a tertiary care centre, Mangaluru: A retrospective study

“…Similar results were found in other study by Sumita Rajeevan et al in North Kerala in 2020. 3 Reasons behind male preponderance could be due to greater exposures of males to dengue-carrying mosquitoes during daytime either at the workplace or during travelling to and from work. Young people of 21-30 years age (35%) were affected maximum followed by 31-40 years (18.8%) and 11-20 years (14.8).…”

“…Serious manifestations occur more frequently in reinfections. 3 It is one of the most swiftly increasing mosquito-borne viral diseases with a wide clinical spectrum and a wide variety of presentations, ranging from mild febrile illness to the more severe forms for instance Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) and Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).Recovery from infection provides lifelong immunity against that serotype but confers only partial and transient protection against subsequent infection by other serotypes. Secondary infection with a serotype different from that causing primary infection may lead to DHF and DSS which can be fatal.…”