Clinical and Hematological correlates of dengue infection: Findings from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Sultana, Afrin and Hossian, Moazzam and Uddin, Md. Khaja Mohi and Sayem, Md. Abu and Rahman, Md. Moshiur and Hossen, Amzad and Shamsuzzaman, Md and Shamsuzzaman, Md and Paul, Pravas and Rahman, Rashedur and Rahman, Md. Ashiqur (2025) Clinical and Hematological correlates of dengue infection: Findings from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 22 (2). pp. 245-253. ISSN 2582-5542

Background: Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, is endemic in tropical regions like Bangladesh, where it has led to a significant public health burden. Hematocrit and neutrophil counts are critical indicators in diagnosing and managing dengue, especially when assessing plasma leakage and immune response. Objective: To assess hematocrit and neutrophil status in clinically suspected dengue patients and correlate these findings with IgM, IgG, and NS1 antigen levels. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a general hospital in Dhaka city, Bangladesh on 168 patients clinically suspected of having dengue. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit, neutrophil counts, NS1 antigen, and IgM/IgG antibody levels. Hematological tests were performed using a Sysmex 1800i Hematology Analyzer. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and p-value analysis were conducted using SPSS version 25. Results: Among the 168 patients, 29.8% tested positive for dengue. Hematocrit analysis showed that 57.1% had below-normal levels, 40.5% were normal, and 2.4% had elevated levels. Neutrophil analysis revealed that 52.9% of patients with raised neutrophil counts were dengue positive (p = 0.019). Additionally, a significant association was found between low platelet counts and dengue positivity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hematocrit and neutrophil counts, along with serological markers, are valuable in diagnosing and managing dengue. This study highlights the importance of neutrophil count as a key indicator of dengue positivity, alongside hematocrit and serological markers. Early identification of these hematological abnormalities can help guide timely therapeutic interventions.