A Study of Incidence and Significance of Section Coagulopathy among Dengue Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital at Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

• Main Authors: R Kavitha, J Denny Clarin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2020-04-01
• Series: National Journal of Laboratory Medicine
• Subjects: bleeding; cytokine tsunami; vascular damage
• Online Access: http://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2389/43746_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(SL)_PB(AG_SL)_PN(SL).pdf

Introduction: Dengue fever, a vector borne disease has become endemic in India which creates a major health problem. Over 2.5 billion people (40% of world’s population) are now at risk from dengue infection. It is a fatal infection with more mortality among children especially among infants. Major causes of mortality among dengue patients are shock and coagulopathy. Aim: To know about the significance of coagulopathy in dengue patients and to emphasise its early correction to prevent mortality. Materials and Methods: All dengue patients admitted during the study period of six months (March 2016 to August 2016) were included. These patients were graded into 4 categories according to the severity of clinical findings as per WHO guidelines. Blood samples were collected for Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and platelet count. Coagulopathy was considered when APTT values were >41 sec. Results: Out of 128 patients studied, 92 patients (71.88%) were classified as grade 1 and 2 dengue. Among them 18 patients (19.5%) had coagulopathy. Among 36 patients (28.2%) who were classified as grade 3 and 4 dengue, 31 patients (86.1%) had coagulopathy. This shows that coagulopathy was more among grade 3 and 4 dengue patients. Conclusion: Early correction of coagulation abnormalities even before the child develops significant bleeding in Grade 3 and 4 dengue patients helps in preventing major bleeding and thus mortality in those children.