Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Markers in Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

¹ Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia (BRIN)
² Department of Biostatistics, Public Health Study Program, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarbaru.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Study Program, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarbaru,

^* Corresponding trir006@brin.go.id

Abstract

Patients in the study lived in various urban and rural locations within the district. From data collected between January and December 2023, we identified 206 Dengue Fever (DF) cases and 218 Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) cases. We assessed clinical variables, including bleeding manifestations, headache, weakness, and fever duration, and laboratory variables: platelet count, hemoglobin level, hematocrit value, and NS1 antigen positivity. Data were collected by reviewing medical records and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests to compare the DF and DHF groups. The results showed significant differences in blood counts: The mean platelet count was much lower in DHF (58,000/mm³) than in DF (112,000/mm³) (p<0.001). Hemoglobin levels averaged 11.2 g/dL in DHF versus 13.1 g/dL in DF (p=0.003). Hematocrit values were significantly lower in DHF (34.5%) than in DF (39.2%) (p=0.005). However, NS1 antigen positivity was similar between the groups, observed in 72.4% of DHF cases and 65.8% of DF cases, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.218).