STUDY OF PLATELET INDICES IN SEROPOSITIVE DENGUE FEVER AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN ASSESSING THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE.

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is vector borne disease usually causes self-limiting illness, but it can lead to fatal complications like dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Early detection of these complications helps in limiting the morbidity and mortality. Objective: To study the changes in the platelet indices in seropositive dengue fever and their signicance in assessing the severity and outcome of the disease. Prospective study was conducted on 450 seropositive cases of dengue fever during the time period NovemberMaterial And Methods: 2017 to June 2019 at Basaveshwara medical college and hospital, Chitradurga. The prospective study included 450 study participants, 431Results: cases (95.8%) were clinically diagnosed with DF and 19 cases were diagnosed with DHF. Among 19 cases of DHF 14 cases were diagnosed as DSS and remaining 5 cases as DHF. 220 cases of DF and 16 cases of DHF had thrombocytopenia. Among 431 cases of DF, 65 cases had increase PDW values and among 19 cases of DHF, 6 cases had increase in PDW values. Among 431 cases of DF, 2 cases showed increase in MPV values and among 19 cases of DHF, none of the case had increase in MPV values. Among 431 cases of DF, 35 cases showed increase in PLCR and among 19 cases of DHF, none of the case had increase in P-LCR values. Almost all cases of DF and DHF showed low plateletcrit. Conclusion: The study of these platelet indices along with platelet counts during the course of the dengue fever helps in the predicting the course, severity and outcome of the disease.