A study of clinical profile of fever with thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Infection is a commonest cause of thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia associated with fever helps to narrow differential diagnosis and management of fever. It also helps to know the various complications of thrombocytopenia and its management. 100 patients aged >14 years with fever and thrombocytopenia. Infection was the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia and dengue fever was the commonest infections. Bleeding manifestations were seen in 33% of patients. Among them 67% patients had Petichae/purpura as the commonest bleeding manifestation followed by spontaneous bleeding in 33%. Good recovery was noted in 93% while mortality was 7% Septicemia accounted for 43% of deaths, followed by dengue/VHF 14%. Infections, particularly dengue fever was the commonest cause of fever with thrombocytopenia. In majority of patients thrombocytopenias was transient and asymptomatic but in significant number of cases there were bleeding manifestations. Spontaneous bleeding was noted in platelet count of <20,000 in majority of patients, petichae/purpura was seen in platelet count in range of 20,000-40,000. On treating the specific cause drastic improvement in platelet count was noted during discharge and further follow-up