A clinical study of dengue fever cases: NRI Medical College, Chinakakani, Andhra Pradesh, South India

Background: Admission of dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever cases was on the rise during the monsoon period of 2013 in NRI Hospital and surrounding Districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. A number of deaths due to dengue fever were reported in the previous months. Hence, a clinical study of the dengue cases was done in the late monsoon for a period of 3 months since a large number of cases with bleeding manifestations were referred to our Hospital for platelets transfusion from the local hospitals and nursing homes. Aim: A Clinical study of dengue fever cases in the extended monsoon period and to evaluate the need for platelet transfusion in dengue fever cases. Retrospective Observational Study — Results: In the retrospective observational study, the diagnostic serotyping was done using rapid standard diagnostic kits. Eighty-four dengue seropositive were seen of which dengue fever cases were 55, dengue hemorrhagic fever were 27 and dengue shock syndrome were 2 cases only. Totally, 26 cases with dengue hemorrhagic fever whose platelet counts were below 50,000 cells/cu mm, were given random pooled donor platelet concentrates, while two cases of dengue shock syndrome were given single donor platelet concentrates, fresh frozen plasma and whole blood transfusion. Timely platelets transfusions in cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome helped to prevent severe hemorrhagic complications, and there were no deaths.