Melvin Dominic1, Hari Hara C. Sudhan2, Karthik Narayan3, Ram Kirubakar Thangaraj4, Abdussamad M.5, Chandrasekaran V.P.6, Syed Abthahir S.7, Chanjal K.S.8
BACKGROUND
Fever is the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia that narrows the differential
diagnosis and management of fever. The complexity of thrombocytopenia and its
control can also be determined through fever. Lack of proper surveillance system
and limited laboratory services pose a definite challenge for a perfect diagnosis
leading to case management primarily based on clinical manifestations
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 patients attending outpatient
department of Vinayaka Missions Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals,
during the period of April 2017 to September 2017 (6 months). In patients with
fever with thrombocytopenia, a careful history was recorded, general physical
examination, laboratory and technical investigation reports were noted down from
regular investigations. Culture sensitivity and serology were considered as primary
outcome variables. The continuous data was expressed as mean ± standard
deviation (SD) and for independent sample “t” test was used to compare the data.
A probability value (“P” value) of ≤ 0.05 at 95 % confidence interval was
considered as statistically significant using Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS).
RESULTS
The mean age was 44.73 ± 21.18 years in the study population. 39 (43.33 %)
were males and 51 (56.67 %) were females. The average period of stay in the
hospital was 8.84 ± 5.73 days; the most common chief complaint was chills &
rigors seen in 65 (72.22 %) patients. The most commonly observed comorbidity
in the patients was diabetes mellitus. The mean and SD of platelet count was
91522.22 ± 32265.13 per μL. 21 (23.33 %) people had dengue. The mean platelet
count at discharge was 192215.19 ± 49481.85 per μL.
CONCLUSIONS
The commonest cause is infection, for fever with decreased platelet count. A
significant number of cases of febrile thrombocytopenia were diagnosed as sepsis
in the present study.
