Can hematocrit and platelet determination on admission predict shock in hospitalized children with dengue hemorrhagic fever? A clinical observation from a small outbreak.

Dengue infection is a major public health problem, affecting children in the Southeast Asia region. In Thailand, the dengue hemorrhagic fever is still a major infectious disease among the children with up to two to three epidemics per year. Hemoconcentration accompanied by platelet depletion are the predominant laboratory signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Findings from 23 hospitalized patients with dengue hemorrhafic fever in a small outbreak in a provincial hospital in Thailand are reported. The question if hematocrit and platelet determination on admission can predict shock in hospitalized children with dengue hemorrhagic fever was studied. The data from the discharge summary of these patients were studied, focusing on the admission hematology laboratory data. Regression analysis was used to test the correlation between the admission hematology laboratory data (hematocrit, white blood cell count, and platelet) and the focused outcome (shock or no shock). Of these 23 patients, shock did not develop in 19, and shock developed in four. There was no significant difference in admission hematology laboratory data between both groups (p < 0.05). The regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between the studied hematology laboratory data and the focused outcome (p > 0.05). It means that the three studied investigations on admission cannot predict shock in our hospitalized dengue hemorrhagic cases. From this study, it can imply that closed monitoring of dengue hemorrhagic patients is necessary. The general practitioner cannot rely on the admission hematology laboratory data to predict shock in these patients. Additionally, it might confirm that, although dengue infection can be fatal, with proper supportive treatment, especially hospitalization and hydration for severe cases, the outcome is very good.