Publication:

Retrospective study of white blood cell count and hematocrit in dengue fever

Background Dengue is an extremely important tropical disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Aim of the study: to study the white blood cell levels in serologically proven dengue cases; to study hematocrit levels in cases of dengue fever.

Methods The present study is a retrospective observational analysis of white blood cell count (WBC count) and hematocrit in 235 serologically proven Dengue cases admitted in the years 2011-2012Results: 107 cases (45.5%) had leukopenia, 111 cases (47.2%) had normal WBC counts and 12 cases had leukocytosis (5.1%).  23 cases had increased hematocrit (9.8%), 76 cases had a low hematocrit (32.3%) and 128 cases had a normal hematocrit (54.5%).

Conclusions A significant proportion of patients had leukopenia which may be an early marker of dengue infection. Only a small percentage of patients had raised hematocrit. It may be that rise from baseline levels of haematocrit which may be more significant than absolute values.