CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND LABORATORY PROFILE OF DENGUE FEVER CASES AT THE TIME OF PRESENTATION IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dengue is the most common arboviral disease worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions. Clinical manifestations of dengue fever are mild illnesses like classical dengue fever and severe illnesses like dengue shock syndrome, and dengue hemorrhagic fever. The study was aimed to determine the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters of patients with Dengue fever

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital, Nellore over 6 months. All the patients above the age of 14 years who were diagnosed with Dengue with a positive result for NS1Ag or IgM or IgG antibodies were included. All the necessary clinical and laboratory investigation parameters of the patients were noted and the data was analyzed by frequency and percentage.

Results: During the study period, a total of 73 dengue cases were included in the study. Of these, there were 38 (52%) males and 33 (48%) females between 15 and 80 years of age. The most common clinical presentations were fever (100%), headache 56 (76.7%), myalgia 52 (71.2%), and nausea/vomiting 46 (63%). The common hematological findings were thrombocytopenia 58 (79.4%), followed by raised liver transaminases 42 (57.5%), leucopenia 37 (50.6%), leucocytosis 22 (30.1%) and raised hematocrit 21(28.7%)

Conclusion: Fever, headache, and anorexia are the most prevalent clinical manifestations of Dengue fever. Low platelet count, raised liver transaminases, and a rise in hematocrit are the most prevalent laboratory abnormalities. Early detection and monitoring of dengue cases can prevent the serious complications of dengue fever.