HEMATOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN DENGUE FEVER - AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a major preventable and treatable cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adults that occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Early diagnosis of dengue is important for provision of specific care which ensures marked reduction in the morbidity of the disease itself. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hematological changes in serologically proven patients with clinical manifestations of Dengue in Bapuji & Chigateri Hospital, Davangere. METHODS: Clinical, hematological and serological information from Patients diagnosed with dengue infection in Bapuji & Chigateri hospital Davangere from April 2013 -June 2013. RESULTS: 221 cases of classic dengue predominated (90.2%), with mild clinical manifestations lacking complications. The main hematological findings were raised hematocrit (79.6%), lymphocytosis (66%) monocytosis (84.6%), basophilia (52.9%), thrombocytopenia (100%) and atypical lymphocytes (87%). In dengue hemorrhagic fever, thrombocytopenia was more prolonged and the number of atypical lymphocytes was higher, while the other hematological abnormalities presented daily evolution similar to those in classic dengue. The hematological changes observed in dengue presented according to the clinical course of the disease and its severity.