DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i02.059

Pages: 618-622

Dengue is an important public health problem worldwide. Dengue virus infection can produce self-limiting illness to fatal life threatening complications like dengue hemorrhagic fever [DHF] and dengue shock syndrome [DSS]. Dengue specific NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG antibody detection can be used for early diagnosis which is essential for effective management of cases to reduce the mortality and morbidity. The only non-dengue parameter which helps in predicting complications is platelet count. Hence this study was conducted to identify the dengue specific serological markers and to correlate them with platelet count of probable dengue cases. Serum samples were collected from suspected dengue cases and Dengue specific NS1 antigen, IgM antibody and IgG antibody were detected by ELISA method. Platelet counts were obtained for all these cases and correlated with dengue serological markers. Out of 230 samples, 93 were positive for one or more of the three dengue parameters. Among the positive samples, NS1 antigen was detected in 72 cases, antibodies IgM and IgG were detected in 21 cases. 37 cases were exclusively positive for NS1 antigen, 9 and 3 cases were positive alone for IgM and IgG respectively. All three parameters were positive in 24 cases. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 73 dengue seropositive cases. Platelet count is much reduced in secondary dengue infections than the primary infections. Platelet count is a simple but important accessory test which not only supports the diagnosis of dengue and also helps to monitor the disease progression.