A Study of Fever with Thrombocytopenia and Its Complications

Abstract

Background: Fever with thrombocytopenia is one of the commonest medical problem encountered in India. Management of complications associated with it is the most challenging task for emergency physician which includes bleeding manifestations, ARDS, hepatitis, acute kidney injury, shock syndrome. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to analyse the cause and outcome of fever associated with thrombocytopenia. Materials and Methods: 100 patients of fever associated with thrombocytopenia who were admitted in the department of emergency medicine, JJM Medical College, Davangere were included in prospective clinical study. Results: 100 patients of fever with thrombocytopenia were analysed out of which male patients were 56 (56%) and female patients were 44 (44%). Among them those who were dengue positive were 64 (64%), Malaria cases were 12 (12%), typhus were 4 (4%), Negative fever profile were 20 (20%). Out of these 100 patients who developed ARDS were 25 (25%), Acute kidney injury were 8 (8%), hepatitis were 7 (7%), patients who developed rash/ petechiae and platelet count less than 20,000 were 60 (60%). Discussion: Infections particularly dengue was the commonest cause of fever with thrombocytopenia, with majority of patients developing bleeding manifestations and ARDS as a complication. The commonest bleeding manifestation were petechiae and purpura. In some patients diagnosed with malaria also developed complication like ARDS, while patients diagnosed with typhus fever had no complications like ARDS. In majority of patients thrombocytopenia was transient and by treating the specific cause improvement in platelet count was noticed during the course of illness.