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Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatic dysfunction in adults with dengue fever and to compare liver parameters in patients with dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from August 2024 to January 2025. We included 193 patients aged 18-65 years, of either gender, admitted with a diagnosis of dengue fever. Baseline characteristics, including age, gender, and duration of illness was recorded. Grading of illness (DF/DHF/DSS) was determined by the attending consultant on admission. Enzymatic assays (ALT, AST, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and LDH) using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer and PT / INR were performed.
Results: The study participants' baseline characteristics were as followed: The average age was 36.5±11.7 years. Regarding gender, 118 participants (61.1%) were male, and 75 (38.9%) were female. The mean illness duration was 4.9±1.7 days. In terms of illness severity, 110 individuals (59.9%) were diagnosed with Dengue Fever (DF), 66 (34.2%) with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), and 17 (8.8%) with Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). The occurrence of hepatic dysfunction increased with disease severity: affecting 15.5% of DF, 27.3% of DHF, and 41.1% of DSS patients (P = 0.02).
Conclusion: Hepatic dysfunction frequently occurs in patients with dengue infection. Therefore, these patients should be closely monitored and managed to prevent and identify any complications early.