Effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya on thrombocytopenia and leucopenia in acute dengue fever patients

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is a mosquito borne disease commonly manifest leucopoenia and thrombocytopenia. Dengue fever and its complications like bleeding manifestation can be life threatening. This study was conducted to study the effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya on thrombocytopenia and leucopoenia in acute dengue fever patients. METHODS: This case control study was conducted amongst the patients suffering from dengue fever with thrombocytopenia. Cases were dengue patients with thrombocytopenia and leucopenia both. Controls were dengue patients with thrombocytopenia with normal leukocyte count. An effect of doxycycline and doxycycline with carica papaya was observed on platelet and leukocyte counts at baseline and first, second, fourth, and seventh day in cases and comparison was done. RESULTS: The maximum improvement in mean platelet count and leukocyte count was observed in doxycycline with carica papaya group followed by doxycycline alone group followed by controls (conservative treatment) in decreasing order on day 4(th) and 7(th) day of admission. Reduced hospital stay was also in the same order. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that doxycycline and carica papaya are useful modality to improve leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in dengue patients and to minimize hospital stay.