PREDICTION OF SEVERITY OF DENGUE USING HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. In the last 50 years, incidence has increased 30-fold with increasing geographic expansion to new countries and, in the present decade, from urban to rural settings. Although DENV infects several cell types, monocytes, macrophages and mast cells are major responders to DENV infection. DENV infection of monocytes triggers the release of numerous immunological factors, some of which modulate the function of other cells, particularly vascular endothelial cells. monocyte-secreted factors can prime or trigger endothelial cell permeability leading to vascular leakage, a major hallmark of severe dengue disease.

Monocytosis is a hematological parameter that will help us identify patients that may have severe dengue- dengue shock syndrome/dengue hemorrhagic fever. This further helps us to be prepared for the treatment of severe dengue and hence help is reducing mortality.