Abstract

Objective: To study the profile of liver involvement in children with dengue fever and to compare the severity of liver involvement with World Health Organization case definition. Methods: A prospective study was carried out from October 2013 to December 2014. Serologically confirmed dengue patients were grouped into three categories according to the World Health Organization classification. Groups 1 and 2 were dengue fever without and with warning signs, respectively; Group 3 was severe dengue. Biochemical and clinical profile of hepatic involvement was studied. Results: A total of 162 children with dengue fever (M:F = 2.37) were included in the study. Median (inter quartile range) age was 12 years (IQR: 0.5–18 years). Hepatitis was observed in 151 (93.2%) patients. Analysis revealed that out of all liver function test parameters, total bilirubin was found to be a significant predictor of dengue category two and three and albumin and ALT levels were significant predictors for category three. Eight cases presented with ALF. Their median AST was 4 817 (range 61–26 957); median ALT was 2 386 (range 39–11 100); median INR was 2.57 (range 1.6–4.2) and their median serum bilirubin was 2.95 (range 0.6–9.0). Conclusions: Some degree of hepatitis is very common in dengue infection with rise in AST being more than ALT irrespective of the severity of dengue. Severity of hepatitis correlates well with the severity of dengue and can help in triaging of dengue patients. Of all liver function parameters, total bilirubin levels correlate best with severity of dengue infection.

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