A study of clinical, hematological, and biochemical profiles of patients with dengue viral infections in Northwest Ethiopia: implications for patient management

BACKGROUND: Dengue is one of the most common arboviral diseases with increased outbreaks annually in tropical and subtropical areas. In Ethiopia, there are no data regarding clinical, hematological and biochemical parameters which are very important in the clinical management of dengue patients. Hence this study was carried out to provide the first baseline data of clinical, hematological and biochemical profiles of patients infected with dengue virus. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among febrile patients in northwest Ethiopia from March 2016 to May 2017. Blood samples were collected from dengue presumed cases and tested against dengue specific IgM antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Those study participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination findings were recorded, hematological and biochemical parameters tests were done. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 102 dengue cases were included in the study. Of these, there were 16 (15.7%) children and 86 (84.3%) adults between 1 and 76 year age. The most common clinical presentations followed by fever (100%) were a headache 89 (87.3%), myalgia 82 (80.4%), nausea/vomiting 71 (69.6%). The common hematological findings were thrombocytopenia 61 (59.8%), followed by anemia 45 (44.1%) and leucopenia 27 (26.5%) and the elevated levels of biochemical parameters were AST 46 (45.1%) and ALT in 18 (17.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the most common clinical and laboratory profiles of dengue viral infections that could alert physicians to the likelihood of dengue virus infections in the study area.