A hospital-based study of hepatic dysfunction in children with dengue fever

ObjectiveTo study the hepatic dysfunction in children with dengue infection and find out its correlation with the severity of dengue fever.MethodsSeventy-two cases of dengue fever as per the World Health Organization aged from 2 months to 18 years of age guidelines serologically confirmed by dengue NS1 antigen detection or dengue IgM capture ELISA were studied for their hepatic dysfunction after excluding malaria, enteric fever, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The duration of the study was from April 2013 to March 2014.ResultsThese 72 cases were grouped into severe dengue, dengue fever with warning sign and dengue fever without warning sign as per the World Health Organization guidelines. The spectrums of hepatic manifestations included hepatomegaly (66%), hepatic tenderness (44%), jaundice (9.72%), raised levels of aspartate transaminase (86%), alanine transaminase (90%), alkaline phosphatase (39%), prolonged prothrombin time (11%) and reduced levels of serum albumin (66%).ConclusionsTender hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzymes were seen more frequently in severe dengue. There was significant derangement between liver function and tender hepatomegaly. Altered liver function may be evident even in the absence of hepatomegaly.