Mortality and morbidity of children admitted with febrile thrombocytopenia in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: This study is conducted at Mahatma Gandhi memorial hospital, Trichy gains significance as there hasn‘t been any of its kind prior to this among children and in this geographical area. Aim and objectives of the study were to study the clinical profile of children presenting with febrile thrombocytopenia and possible etiology. The study correlates clinical features with the laboratory parameters and assessing the complications associated with fever and thrombocytopenia.Methods: Prospective, descriptive study consist of 200 children aged 1 months to 12 years admitted with fever and thrombocytopenia as inpatients in the paediatric wards at Mahatma Gandhi memorial government hospital, Trichy during July 2017 to June 2018. Inclusion criteria included children aged 1 month to 12 years admitted in paediatric wards of MGM GH, Trichy, exclusion criteria excluded neonates <1 month and children >12 years, patients presenting with thrombocytopenia without fever, ITP, platelet dysfunction disorders, malignancy, patients on chemotherapy and immunosuppressive agents and on drugs causing thrombocytopenia. Results: Dengue was the most common cause of febrile thrombocytopenia in our region accounting for 56% of cases, this is followed by enteric fever in 17%, undifferentiated fever in 16.5%, sepsis in 6.5%, scrub typhus in 3.5% and malaria in 0.5%. 5% of children with febrile thrombocytopenia were given platelet transfusion. 95% (n=190) of the children with febrile thrombocytopenia improved and were discharged. 1% (n=2) left against medical advice. The mortality rate in the study is 4% (n=8).Conclusions: The risk of bleeding increases as the platelet count decreases. The mortality is not related to the severity of thrombocytopenia.