Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatic dysfunction in children presenting at a tertiary care hospital, Karachi. Method: A prospective, cross-sectional study has been conducted at Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, from the month of June 2015 to December 2016. Children, who were admitted to the setting were included in the study on the basis of diagnosis of dengue after the serological confirmation by finding of dengue immunoglobin M captured by ELISA and screening as per the WHO guidelines for severity of the dengue infection. Results: 189 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study out of which 59.8% (113) were males and 40.2% (76) were females. The pediatric cases were distinguished into three cases i.e. 59.3% (112) of dengue infection, 25.4% (48) dengue hemorrhagic fever and 15.3% (29) dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: Notable frequency of hepatic dysfunction has been observed with severity in dengue shock syndrome in comparison with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

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