A Study of Correlation Between Dengue Serological Markers and Platelet Count in Ajmer Region

Background: Dengue is an acute viral infection has emerged as a notable public health problem. Rapid immunochromatographic test and IgM/IgG ELISA has been the mainstay of diagnosis. Combination of NS1 antigen detection along with antibody detection increases the diagnostic rates. Thrombocytopenia begins during febrile phase. Therefore, we tried to evaluate the association of platelet counts against immunochromatographic test (NS1 and IgM/IgG) and IgM ELISA in dengue infections. Methodology: The study of variation in different platelet parameters in dengue fever cases was undertaken in our department over a period of 18 months from July 2017 to December 2018. Inclusion criteria: All patients with clinical features and serologically positive dengue infection included.   Exclusion criteria: Patient’s which are serologically negative dengue and if routine laboratory test suggesting a bacterial, parasite or any viral infection other than dengue infection or any other disease.  CBC was done from all clinically suspected dengue cases. Serum samples were tested for NS1, IgM and IgG by immunochromatography-based test and IgM MAC-Capture ELISA. Platelet counts were obtained from all serologically positive cases. Test results of dengue specific parameters were compared against platelet counts. Results: Of 636 samples tested, 396 were positive for one or more dengue parameters. Of the 396, 312 were positive for NS1, 152 were positive for IgM, 41 were positive for IgG and 354 were positive for IgM ELISA. Thrombocytopenia was consistently associated with one of the serological parameters. Conclusion: It can be concluded from our study that Thrombocytopenia was found in all serological positive dengue cases and showed a significant correlation with serological markers.