Evaluation of Platelets as Predictive Parameters in Dengue Fever

Abstract

Dengue is an arboviral disease and occurs in tropical countries where over 2.5billion people are at risk of infection. Each year an estimated 100million cases of dengue fever (DF) occur and between 2.5 and 5 lakh cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are reported to WHO. Severe thrombocytopenia and increased vascular permeability are two major characteristics of DHF. A study was conducted to note the relationship between the platelet counts and severity of the disease in pediatric cases of dengue fever. Platelet counts were found to be predictive as well as recovery parameter of DF/DHF/DSS.