A comprehensive retrospective study on dengue: Clinical and laboratory insights from a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious diseases pose a significant health burden globally, with diverse clinical presentations and outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of demographic characteristics, detection types, symptom prevalence, laboratory parameters, and correlations with clinical outcomes among the study population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on participants presenting with symptoms of infectious diseases. Data on demographic characteristics, detection types, symptom prevalence, and laboratory parameters were collected. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the correlation between symptoms and clinical outcomes. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.96 years (SD = 24.06), with 57% males and 43% females. Rural and urban participants were nearly equal (52% and 48%, respectively). Detection types included IgM, IgG, and NS1Ag. Fever was the most common symptom, followed by myalgia. Headache, rash, nausea, and Diarrhea. Mean laboratory values included hemoglobin (13.45 g/dL, SD = 1.42), WBC count (6.07 x 103/µL, SD = 1.99), and platelet count (150.43 x 103/µL, SD = 50.40). Significant correlations with clinical outcomes were found for nausea/vomiting (χ2 = 8.08, p = 0.018) and abdominal pain (χ2 = 8.35, p = 0.015). Conclusion: This study highlights the diverse clinical presentations and laboratory findings in the study population, with significant correlations between specific symptoms and clinical outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of early detection and monitoring of gastrointestinal symptoms for better disease management.