Year: 2026 | Month: May | Volume: 16 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 44-50
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260506
Clinicoserological Diagnosis of Dengue Fever in Correlation with Platelet Count and Abnormal Liver Function Test in a Tertiary Care Centre
Bhupendra Kumar Mandawat1, Rahul Agarwal2, Nand Bihari Malav3
1,2,3Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Rahul Agarwal
ABSTRACT
Background: Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is a significant global public health challenge. Hepatic involvement is a frequent complication, often serving as a marker for disease severity. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serologically confirmed dengue, platelet counts, and liver function parameters in the Kota region of Rajasthan.
Methods: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Govt. Medical College, Kota, from September 2022 to December 2023. A total of 500 IgM-ELISA positive dengue patients (classified by WHO 1997 criteria) were enrolled. Patients with pre-existing liver disease or co-infections (Malaria, Typhoid, Viral Hepatitis) were excluded. Hematological profiles (CBC) and Liver Function Tests (LFT) were analyzed using automated analyzers.
Results: Of the 500 patients, 63.6% were male, with the 21–30 year age group (31.4%) most commonly affected. Cases were classified as Dengue Fever (DF, 68.2%), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF, 25.8%), and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS, 6.0%). Fever was universal (100%), while hemorrhagic manifestations were exclusive to DHF (52.7%) and DSS (43.3%) groups. Hepatic dysfunction correlated significantly with disease severity. Elevated Aspartate Transaminase (AST) was more prevalent than Alanine Transaminase (ALT), appearing in 100% of DHF and 96.6% of DSS cases. Hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dl) was observed in over 55% of all patients, while hypoglobulinemia was most frequent in the DSS group (30%).
Conclusion: Hepatic dysfunction, characterized by elevated transaminases (AST > ALT) and hypoalbuminemia, is highly prevalent in dengue infection and scales with disease severity. These biochemical markers, alongside platelet counts, serve as critical prognostic indicators for early identification of DHF and DSS, facilitating better clinical management in endemic regions like Kota.
Key words: Dengue Fever, AST, ALT, Thrombocytopenia, Hepatic Dysfunction, Kota.