Publication:

Etiological spectrum and clinical outcomes of paediatric patients with fever and hepatosplenomegaly: a retrospective study from a tertiary care center

Background Fever with hepatosplenomegaly is a common presentation in children. Etiologies range from infectious, hematological, malignancies and storage disorders. Early identification of underlying cause is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Methods A hospital based retrospective observational study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Navodaya Medical College, Raichur for a duration of 6 months with sample size of 150. Children from 1 month - 18 years of age with medical records including laboratory tests indicating both fever and hepatosplenomegaly on clinical or radiological examination were included.

Results The most common etiology was infectious (65%) including malaria (34.02%), dengue (28.88%), and enteric fever (19.58%), followed by hematological disorders (24.66%) and congestive (8%). Mean age was between 1 month and 5 years of age years (46%), with slight male predominance (58%).

Conclusions Infections are the leading cause of fever with hepatosplenomegaly in children. A structured diagnostic approach can aid in early identification of serious conditions like leukemia or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).