Slow platelet recovery pattern during the 2011 dengue outbreak: a preliminary report

Area of Science:

• * Epidemiology
• * Infectious Diseases
• * Hematology

Background:

• * Dengue fever is a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical regions.
• * Platelet count is a critical indicator of dengue severity and recovery.
• * Anecdotal observations suggested a difference in patient recovery rates between the 2010 and 2011 dengue outbreaks in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To quantitatively assess and compare the platelet recovery rates in patients during the 2010 and 2011 dengue outbreaks in Colombo.
• * To validate clinical observations regarding patient recovery timelines.

Main Methods:

• * Retrospective analysis of patient data from two distinct dengue outbreaks (2010 and 2011).
• * Calculation and statistical comparison of platelet recovery rates between patient cohorts (n=28 in 2010, n=25 in 2011).

Main Results:

• * Patients recovering from dengue fever in the 2011 outbreak exhibited significantly slower platelet recovery rates.
• * A statistically significant difference (p=0.0089) was observed when comparing the platelet recovery rates between the two outbreak years.

Conclusions:

• * The findings confirm that dengue patients in Colombo experienced a slower return of normal platelet counts in 2011 compared to 2010.
• * This suggests potential changes in the virus, host response, or clinical management influencing disease progression and recovery patterns over time.