Platelet indices as an acute phase reactant in infants admitted with acute febrile illness

Abstract

Background: The most common causes of thrombocytosis are infectious illnesses; platelet count is unaffected by fever duration. Infectious disorders such rotavirus gastroenteritis, respiratory syncytial virus infection, hepatitis B and C virus infection, brucellosis, and pulmonary tuberculosis, and also medical and non-medical situations, might impact mean platelet volume (MPV) readings. C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma concentration changes during infection or inflammation as part of the innate immune response. Aim was to investigate in children with febrile illness the correlation between platelet indices and CRP.Methods: This hospital based descriptive study was conducted in post graduate Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, an associated hospital of Government Medical College and Hospital, Srinagar, from December 2019 to November 2021. As per sample size calculation 3000 patients were included in the study. Patients of either sex, age from 1 month to 1 year of age with fever admitted in hospital were included in the study.Results: There was a significantly positive correlation between platelet count and CRP. The sensitivity was highest for platelets at 96.67 and lowest for MPV 32.97 while as specificity was highest for white blood cells (WBC) at 94.4 for MPV was 92.22 and lowest for platelet (PLT) 30.77. Spearman rank correlation between platelet indices and CRP value children with fever with high CRP had a significantly high PT and it has significant positive correlation with CRP.Conclusions: We found a strong link between CRP and platelet counts in patients. Platelet count, platelet distribution width (PDW), MPV, and plateletcrit (PCT) were all influenced.