Early Recognition of Malaria or Dengue Complicated with Thrombocytopenia
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2016, Vol 20, Issue 4
Abstract
Aim of the Study: To observed changes in clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters of dengue and malaria over a period of ten days in patients who presents with low platelet count. Place and Duration of Study: Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi, India, November 2013-to March 2015. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Sample Size: Total 134 cases of thrombocytopenia with fever were included in the study of which 90 cases were of dengue and 44 were of malaria. Methodology: Patients of acute fever who were diagnosed as malaria or dengue by peripheral smear, rapid antigen testing or serology were included. Complete blood count including platelet count; liver function test and renal function tests were done in all cases on day 2, 4, 6, 8 and day 10 to see progressive changes. Results were analysed subsequently. Results: The patients of dengue presented earlier (4.11 ± 1.42) around 4th day as compared to malaria. The skin rash, bleeding tendency, tourniquet test positivity and respiratory abnormalities were more frequent in dengue patients, while abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, jaundice, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were more frequent in malaria patients. White blood cells count showed initial rise in malaria and fall in dengue which gradually recovered by 10th day in both diseases. Fall in haemoglobin was seen only in malaria cases. There was continuous fall in platelet count till 6th day of illness in dengue patient while in malaria patient fall appeared early on 2nd day of fever but was inconsistent, which gradually recovered. Platelet fall was more severe in dengue as compared to malaria, so was bleeding tendencies. Bleeding tendencies were more frequent when the platelet count was below 20,000/µL. Transaminase levels were more severely deranged and manifested early in malaria, while serum creatinine and blood urea were more deranged in dengue. Both these biochemical abnormalities return to normal by 10th day of illness. Conclusion: There are certain differences between clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters in malaria and dengue for early diagnosis. We suggest that our observations can be used in remote areas where facilities for specific test are not available or limited by financial constrains or in epidemics.
Authors and Affiliations
M. K. Bhatnagar, Rakesh Kumar Jagdish, Satender Kumar Yadav, Ritika Sud
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP329105
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2016/30257
- Views 121
- Downloads 0
An Emerging Threat of Dengue and Chikungunya Co-infection: Need of Developing a Pre-diagnostic Screening Tool
Dengue and Chikungunya infections have caused large outbreaks globally and millions of people have been affected worldwide. They are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus and can cause potentially severe acut...
Burden of Malaria and Prospective Challenges in South-East Asia Region: A Review
Malaria caused 350 to 500 million clinical episodes in the year 2000 and remains the fifth most deadly infectious disease worldwide after respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, and tuberculosis. Though ma...
Detection and Species Identification of Malaria Parasites by Nested-PCR: Comparison with Light Microscopy and with SD BIOLINE Malaria Ag Test in Luanda, Angola
Background: Malaria is the infectious disease causing the highest morbidity and mortality in Angola. Existing tools for the diagnosis of malaria include microscopy, rapid diagnosis tests (RDTs) and molecular tools. Neste...
Surveillance of Injury in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India: A Hospital Based Study
Introduction: Injury is a major, preventable public health problem in terms of morbidity, premature mortality or disability. This study aims to assess the epidemiology of injury in patients admitted to a tertiary care ce...
Prevalence of Leukocyturia among Schistosoma haematobium Infected School Children in Cameroon
Background: Urinary schistosomiasis is endemic in many areas in Cameroon and for effective control measures, an efficient, quick and cheap diagnosis should be integrated. This will ensure the proper management of infecti...