Hepatic Involvement in Dengue Infected Children at Tertiary Care Hospital, Karimnagar

Background: The spectrum of liver dysfunction in children with dengue infection is wide and is associated with severity of the disease. Dengue infection commonly causes hepatic dysfunction. The degree of liver dysfunction in children varies from mild injury with elevated transaminases to severe injury with jaundice. Aims: To assess the spectrum of hepatic involvement in children with dengue infection. Materials and Methods: This study was undertaken to assess the clinical and biochemical profile of hepatic involvement in children infected by dengue virus. Results: All the cases were grouped into 3 groups, DF without warning signs, DF with warning signs and severe dengue according to revised WHO 2009 criteria. The spectrum of hepatic manifestations includes hepatomegaly, hepatic tenderness, jaundice, raised aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and reduced serum albumin. Conclusions: Hepatic dysfunction was observed more in DF with warning signs and severe dengue compared to dengue without warning signs. There was elevation of ALT and AST in case of DF with warning signs and severe dengue. Therefore in a child with fever, jaundice, hepatomegaly and altered liver function tests, the diagnosis of dengue infection should be strongly considered in areas where dengue infection is endemic.