Pseudobasophilia as a Screening Tool in Dengue: A Single Center Study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Serological testing for dengue diagnosis is often costly and inaccessible in resource-limited settings.
• Hematological parameters offer a potential avenue for early dengue case identification.
• Pseudobasophilia, an unusual finding in blood counts, warrants investigation for its diagnostic utility in dengue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the occurrence of pseudobasophilia in dengue patients.
• To assess the utility of pseudobasophilia and other complete blood count (CBC) parameters in early dengue identification.
• To compare hematological profiles between dengue cases and febrile illness controls.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study involving 1,304 confirmed dengue cases and 1,044 controls.
• Analysis of complete blood count (CBC) values from initial EDTA blood samples.
• Statistical comparison of hematological parameters between groups and by fever day using Mann-Whitney's, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher's exact tests.

Main Results:

• Significant variations observed in hematocrit, platelet count, mean platelet volume, white blood cell count, and absolute basophil count between dengue cases and controls.
• Dengue patients exhibited higher hematocrit, higher mean platelet volume, lower platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), and leucopenia during specific fever days.
• Pseudobasophilia was present in 40.87% of dengue cases versus only 0.28% of controls, with an increasing trend related to fever day.

Conclusions:

• Pseudobasophilia, alongside other CBC parameters, provides a cost-effective method for early dengue detection.
• Early identification through CBC analysis can facilitate prompt investigations and supportive care.
• Improved clinical outcomes for dengue patients can be achieved through timely diagnosis and treatment.